Paul Austin: Seeing is Eating

Paul Austin says that he tries to capture "a quiet zen-like presence in everyday foods" and when you see his direct and unadorned paintings of apples, lemons, onions, walnuts, perhaps even a bay tree, all of them framed against dark black backgrounds that seem to pitch the light from the painting into your face, then it is the still presence of the fruit or vegetables that stops you and commands you to look.

Austin trained as an architectural illustrator, training at the Boston Architectural Centre in Massachusetts, and taught illustration at universities and colleges in the 'States for eight years before setting up his studio in Gearhies on the Sheep's Head peninsula in West Cork, two years ago.

In addition to the original works, he makes prints and cards of these striking, singular images. The utter lack of adornment - the closest one gets to decoration is a piece of string holding a bunch of carrots or asparagus - means that all one sees is light and form: the ramshackle arrangement of "Seven Lemons"; the Goya-esque blush of "Red Pears", the zen of everyday foods.

For further details of Paul's work, and to enquire about original paintings and prints for menus, etc, contact him on p123austin@eircom.net