HAPPENINGS

Special Artist Appearance April 24 - 25

Paul B. Lotz ECG Historic Gaslamp • RSVP to ecg.gl@ecgallery.com • (800) 204-0062

antasy and fables have long been a part of our culture, often enrapturing the mind of their audience and presenting whimsical creatures as beings similar to ourselves, with emotions and desires. Artists today are taking on different mediums to cultivate a contemporary line of work in response to an ever-evolving form of story telling. Sculptor Paul B. Lotz is one such artist, paying homage to the great masters of the Renaissance while bridging the gap between fantasy and reality, blurring any lines that may separate the two. “I want the stories to be more intense,” he said. “I want the viewer to feel a part of the tale.” Lotz, who graduated from the Tyler School of Art with a degree in Graphic Design in 1989, was raised in the small town of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. During his schooling, Lotz took pottery and sculpture courses and also spent a semester in Rome, where he first discovered the art of the Renaissance.

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At the time, Lotz was still on the design path and determined to build a career in the business world. When he finished school he put down his pencils and paints to become an entrepreneur. Nevertheless, Lotz’s business ventures often took him to Europe where he was again immersed in the works of the old masters. “I had a definite passion for ancient history, classical art and architecture, the different lifestyles, and the growth of humankind over centuries,” he said.

After moving to San Diego in 2010 and attending a San Diego Sculptors Guild group show, he took up sculpting again. Inspired by the array of styles, Lotz sought to develop his own unique method and genre, characteristic of him alone. He experimented and challenged himself with the process of clay and bronze. In his work, Lotz’s fascination with the Renaissance masters and culture merge with his love of dreams and

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fantasy. It can be said of Lotz that he sculpts his masterpieces from the inside out. Inner emotions propel the external appearance of his sculptures, using rich metaphorical imagery to interpret those emotions.

“I want to capture these hidden feelings and express people in their most private state, both mentally and physically. My hope is to create something people will relate to but never want to admit feeling themselves.”

It is these honest expressions of emotion that spark immediate response on the part of the viewer, giving life and a tangible image for something that may not always have words to explain. “Ultimately,” says Lotz, “no matter what the subject, the piece must exude emotion. I love dichotomies, reality vs. fantasy, good vs. evil, sex vs. purity. I want people to feel what the subject is feeling and see the story being told. It doesn’t necessarily have to be my story, but they have to be inspired to make their own.”

OFF THE EASEL MAGAZINE – SPRING 2015