FEATURED ARTIST - Paul Lewin

Lead digital editor Brenna Lilly spoke with artist Paul Lewin about ancestral inspiration, visions for the future, and the art of patience.

- Brenna Lilly

You work in acrylics, but your paintings are so cleanly rendered that they appear to be digital. How did you develop such a distinctive style? 

There has been a lot of trial and error in my process over the years. In my early days, I was inspired by fantasy and surrealist artists of the late ’60s and early ’70s, such as Salvador Dali, Ernie Barnes, and H.R. Giger. Their work was finely detailed, meticulous, and captivating. It has always been my goal to incorporate these attributes into my own work. I feel that I have made some good progress in my career, but it is only now that I am beginning to truly understand the art of patience.

Your work centers around Black women with wise, serene expressions, who you’ve said are inspired by your ancestors. How does ancestor reverence impact your artwork and your life as a whole? 

In 2011, I started working on my first series, which was inspired by Afro-Caribbean folklore. I loved the work that I was doing prior to that, but I had reached a point where I wanted my art to be a part of something much bigger than myself. After many conversations with my family and friends, I began the journey of exploring my ancestry. I was quickly inspired by the folktales, music, and traditions that had been passed down from generation to generation through the ancient art of storytelling.