Paul Chapdelaine is a well know artist in Tela and Roatan. But, I did not know that, until I walked by what I thought was a street painter (you know, like the kind you see in parks and boulevards in the big cities) and met the man. At first, I took out my camera and asked if I could take some photos of him painting. He nodded “yes” as an agreement and I snapped a few shots. I wandered on down the sandy road of West End and on my return walk, he was still there. I wanted to get to know this painter better, so I asked him to tell me a little about himself. As he talked, I saw the colors of his life in his words and I knew I wanted to know more. He then let me see his house, where he showed me the colors of his life’s work. It was a sight to see.

I made my splash as an artist in 1994 in a sleepy town called Tela, on the North Coast of Honduras. It is still the same. I didn't’t come as a teacher, but as a full time artist. I saw a desire and need within myself to learn the arts, especially through the younger generation.

After six years in Tela and a small following, I felt I needed to make a change. After all, I need to have support to stay put. All artists need this, or we move on and that’s just a fact.

My training was through the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts (four years full time), receiving a diploma and degree in 1985. I found my niche as a PLEIN – an air landscape painter.
(En plein air (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ plɛˈnɛʁ]) is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors. This was done to optimize the use of natural light both on the natural scene and the pigment of paint colors.)

I am a colorist because I “know” (the eye tells the brain about color) and the neutrons fly.  Black and white doesn't do this. All my paintings are about color.

The colors here in Roatan are unbelievable!  So, look me up at the first “One Man Gallery” in West End

next to the Shirt Shack (I live in the wood house in the back) or, at the Waves of Art Gallery where Michelle Braun has become a friend and admirer of my work.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - is their more?
 

I am
Paul Chapdelaine