MASTER OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Paul Emsley was born in Glasgow in 1947 and moved to South Africa in 1969.  He attended classes in Art & Design at Cape Technical College.  From 1983 – 1995 Emsley taught drawing at the Department of Creative Arts, at the University of Stellenbosch.  In 1996, he moved to England.

“I have always loved drawing. The dryness of the paper and the chalk demand precision and exactness. It quickly exposes one’s weaknesses and mistakes, leaving no room for cleverness or tricks. In my drawings, I try to emphasize the singularity and silence of the form. By a careful balancing of tones, I emphasise the way in which light and shade fall across the subject. By creating a settled half-light, I try to transform the existence of the object from the ordinary to something moew profound.” Paul Emsley

© Paul Emsley Gorilla. Chalk drawing. 102 x 99 cm.

© Paul Emsley Elephant. Chalk drawing. 98 x 137 cm.
© Paul Emsley Nelson Mandela. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 117 x 88.5 cm.
© Paul Emsley White Rhinoceros. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 194 x 105 cm
© Paul Emsley Wolf. Chalk drawing. 55.7 x 75.2 cm
© Paul Emsley The Poet's Garden. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 92 x 131.5 cm
© Paul Emsley The Legend of the Willow. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 62 x 90.5 cm.
© Paul Emsley Reclining figure. Chalk drawing
© Paul Emsley William Kentridge, Black chalk and pencil drawing 91.5 x 105.5cm
© Paul Emsley Recollection. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 98.5 x 63.5 cm.
© Paul Emsley Cari. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 110.5 cm x 85 cm
© Paul Emsley Self Portrait. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 60 x 51 cm


Public collections
National Portrait Gallery. London.
British Museum.
South African National Gallery.
Johannesburg Art Gallery.
University of the Witwatersrand.
University of Stellenbosch.
University of the Orange Free State.
William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley.
Sasol Collection.
Sanlam Collection.
Northwestern University, Chicago.
 

Exhibitions (partial list)
2012
Woordfees Artist 2012, Retrospective Exhibition, Sasol Art Museum, Stellenbosch
2011
Solo Exhibition, Redfern Gallery
Masterpiece London
Joburg Art Fair
2010
Joburg Art Fair
Masterpiece London
Art London
London Art Fair
2009
London Art Fair.
Art London.
Johannesburg art Fair.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
2008
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Victoria Gallery Bath, Exhibition of BP Award Portrait.
Art London
Art Palm Beach
London Art Fair