About the Artist
Paul Boddum is a Canadian painter who lives and works in the Leslieville area of Toronto. Boddum has been painting
domestic pets since the late 80's and is now a nationally recognized animal artist. The style of his artwork is contemporary combining both representational and abstract elements. Paul has been a self-taught artist after studying visual art for one year at York University in 1986. He then studied Early Childhood Education while continuing to pursue his painting. Following his brief studies in art, he based his learning on observation and his travels throughout the 90's to view artworks abroad at institutions such as MOMA and the Louvre.
Since exhibiting his work at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition in 2002, Paul received numerous requests for commission portraits and began taking orders from across Canada and the United States. So far Paul has created over sixty custom works for collectors and his clients include Ann Rohmer, Anne Wroczkowski, and Art Smith former personal chef for Oprah Winfrey. Boddum has been featured in House and Home Magazine, Style at Home, The Boston Herald, Animal Fair, the National Post, the Toronto Star, and he has appeared on the Pet Network and CP 24.
Paul has exhibited his paintings in Toronto, New York, Maine, California, and this Fall his works will be included in an exhibition at the MOAS-Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida. Paul is represented in Toronto by Shelley Lambe Fine Art Consultants.
In artistic terms he considers his works no different than portraits of people, the focus is on capturing the essence and unique personality of the subject. His inspiration is drawn from peoples devotion and connection to their adopted pets and what in turn they give back to enrich their lives. He has also gained insight into the connection we make with animals from having his own dog-Noah. Growing up as an adoptee, Paul has always been interested in exploring the effects of nature versus nature, and the transformative bond that forms from the domestic pet's need to be cared for by others. In his newest works, the animal is paired with abstract expressionist gestures. His paintings convey the expected details of the animals form, but the background is not treated like a background, it is painted as an extension of the animal.
Charities
Over his career Paul has donated commission portraits to help raise much needed funds for numerous
charities including Project Jessie, The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, Reach for the Rainbow
(integrated summer camp programs for children with disabilities), and was a sponser for the K9
Rescue Me 2010 walk-a-thon in Toronto.
Music
Paul has been a musician for numerous years, and is currently the drummer in indie band Soft Copy.
