By Jim Gerwing

When you stand in front of Paul Peregal’s paintings you are struck by the power of his images. You can hear the saxophonist playing the blues in his “Round Midnight.” You can feel as if you were present in the theatre to witness the frenetic madness of Richard III.

Paul Peregal’s paintings are that dynamic because he paints with an emotional drive that captivates and awes the viewer.

The Beacon is proud to have Peregal’s paintings on display during the months of March and April. Some of the paintings will have to wait until his show is over at the McPherson Theatre in mid-March.

Paul was born in Maine. His family moved to Montreal when he was a little boy. After high school, he enrolled in the School of Art and Design at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. There he studied colour theory under Arthur Lismer, director and founder of the school. After earning his diploma, he traveled and painted in Europe, keeping a home base in Toronto, where his family resides.

During these years his work evolved through realism, surrealism, impressionism and post-impressionism, being especially inspired by the mutated images of Francis Bacon. He was drawn, so he states, to the more visceral expressions and “painting under inspiration.” More and more he painted the way he felt he wanted to paint rather than imitating any existing manner.

Why had he chosen to live in Victoria, specifically James Bay, after living in London, Paris, Denmark, and New York? He liked what he saw in Victoria while visiting friends here three years ago. “I had to drive five hours out of Toronto to find inspiration and a change of scenery, whether to Algonquin Park or to upper New York state. I was sick of the toxic blanket of smog that is Toronto.”

He has found close friends in Victoria. He enjoys the community of artists in James Bay. Like most artists, he has discovered that, while Victoria is a great place to live and paint, the market for their work is Eastern Canada. “I came to Victoria to sell in Toront/p>

Peregal teaches contemporary painting at University Canada West. He likes to focus on the influences of world renowned artists who dare to break away from what is considered safe and traditional. You can visit his website: www.paulperegal.com to learn more about this local artist. Then come to the Beacon during office hours to see his work up close.

Photo by Jim Gerwing