News Archive April 2009

From: South Jersey Local News
by Jeannie Greenwood
Posted: May 15, 2009

Once known for painting his face, Paul Stanley has a new canvas.The Kiss front man will showcase his acrylic paintings May 15 and 16 at the Wentworth Gallery in King of Prussia, Pa.

While Stanley's work is enough to please any Kiss fan - think vibrant colors, fiery images and evocative themes sound familiar? - the artist aims for a wide-reaching audience, from the connoisseur to the neophyte.

"You don't need a degree (to appreciate art) and you don't need a person to tell you what good art is," said Stanley, 57, during a phone interview with the Community News. "Art, like music, is about connecting emotionally."

Painting isn't new to Stanley, who proved talented at visual art at a young age. Enrolled in the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in his native New York City, Stanley pursued this path but considered the rigid boundaries of classrooms and deadlines stifling to his creativity.

"I managed to fail art. I got myself more and more involved in music which really was my dual passion. Nobody took my musical pursuits seriously, which was perfect because I was left alone to do what I needed to do," said Stanley.

Later, as Kiss exploded onto the rock and roll scene, Stanley's artistic flair came in handy for designing the band's elaborate stage sets and intricate album covers.

About 10 years ago, he picked up the paint brush once more. This time, the dormant passion served as an emotional outlet, he said.

Shows and exposure in general weren't part of the plan, but his work captured attention in the art world.

Recalling his first gallery show in Hawaii, about three years ago, Stanley said he had no idea what to expect. He was pleasantly surprised.

"It was successful beyond what I had conceived. To be surrounded by your own creations is pretty gratifying.

When you create works that are reflection of who you are, it's kind of like being in a house that you built.

The shows are terrific in that sense," said Stanley, whose artwork pieces sell for around $70,000.

The Wentworth Gallery show bisects a busy year for Stanley, who recently finished the South American leg of the Alive/35 tour with Kiss and is currently working on the band's first album in a decade, set for release this fall. Not to mention fatherhood - Stanley and his wife, Erin Sutton, welcomed their second child, Sarah Brian-na, in January. (Stanley and Sutton, who reside in Beverly Hills, Calif., also have a toddler, Colin Michael, and Stanley has a teen-age son, Evan Shane, from a previous marriage.) As for his extended Kiss family, Stanley's fire-breathing band mate/reality star Gene Simmons happens to live right in the same neighborhood. ("I can see his ego from here!" joked Stanley.) It's his everyday life that Stanley credits as his artistic influence.

Said Stanley, "I think that, basically, if you're waiting for inspiration, you're not living. Every day that I live is filled with inspiring moments. So I go into my art studio and pick up the brushes and just go."

Wentworth Gallery is located in The Court, 690 W. Dekalb Pike, in King of Prussia, Pa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Stanley will make appearances from 7 to 9 p.m. May 15 and 5 to 8 p.m. May 16. For more information, call (610) 337-8988 or visit went-worthgallery.com.