The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
2024 Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition
Paul Lyon
Artist LyonArt.NetBio
Every child is an artist… the problem is staying an artist when you grow up. – Pablo Picasso
My love for art started when I was a child. Six homemakers, including my mother, visited my elementary school after they had received training on six different artists at the Toledo Museum of Art. They talked about Van Gogh, Seurat, Monet, Picasso, Whistler, and Homer, and I was fascinated by their stories. They shared details of the artists’ techniques, the history of the time, and what inspired them to paint. From that day, I wanted to be an artist.
Later, my interest in politics grew in a turbulent period with Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. I combined my two passions and pursued a career as an editorial cartoonist. I was fortunate to get my work published in newspapers like the Findlay Courier, Toledo Blade, BGSU News, and UT Collegian. I graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which combined my majors in Life Drawing and Painting, with Political Science and History.
After graduation, I needed to find a job, and after much consideration, I went back to school to study Advertising and Marketing. I started my career in the same field and have worked in it ever since. I got married, had children, coached soccer, and for thirty-five years, I didn’t paint anything except my house.
I have decided to fulfill my lifelong dream of being an artist as I head into retirement, after the urging from my wife and children. During family vacations, I would often walk the beaches of Northern Michigan and take photos with the goal of one day painting what I saw and sharing my enthusiasm with others. While in art school, I used to create loud and angry paintings to express my views. Now, I paint landscapes to express the happiness that I have found throughout my journey.
Artist Statement
I spend a lot of time walking on beaches, forest paths, and the streets of my neighborhood and city. I am amazed by the power and beauty of the weather. An approaching storm creates a stunning display of rushing clouds, strong winds, and contrasting shades of dark and soft colors. The trees, bushes, and leaves sway and dance together in the wind. Afterwards, everything is scrubbed clean and the sun sparkles, promising a new day. A sense of calm washes over the landscape like the feeling of laying down on cool, fresh sheets. I enjoy painting the movement, light, and the story I find in my surroundings, whether it is a storm or a calm day.
I have color blindness and struggle with differentiating between red, green, brown, blue, and purple. To overcome this challenge, I study and investigate the colors in a subject before I begin painting, to fully understand their relationships and play. People often ask me if I see colors, and while I do, the colors I see are not always the same as what others see. I perceive a higher level of contrast which explains my fascination with weather and movement.
When I paint, I try to work in as many colors and brush strokes as possible to create a subtle vibration to bring the canvas to life. I want the viewer to experience the same story I found while walking through the landscape.