1st Place, 2023 Figural Competition
Jon Bøe Paulsen, The Guests Arrive, oils. © Jon Bøe Paulsen, shared with permission.
Jon Bøe Paulsen
Internationally acclaimed artist, Jon Bøe Paulsen of Oslo, Norway, is a master of neo-realism. “I consider myself to be an artist belonging to the group of new realists where the human form is looked upon in a new light and painted with strong figurative elements.”
Paulsen studied art at the Norwegian State Art Academy located in Norway, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.
Jon Bøe Paulsen, Fatal Attraction, oils. © Jon Bøe Paulsen, shared with permission.
His portraits weave multiple narratives into a single image, with the strong interplay of light and dark using a technique known as “Clair Obscure” (“chiaroscuro” in Italian), which accentuates striking contrasts between light and dark, creating a dramatic effect. As Paulsen explains, “Classical paintings which use the Clair Obscure technique, have a stronger impact on the viewer because of their restricted use of color. This is why I try to work with only a few earthtone colors in each piece.”
Jon Bøe Paulsen, The Blue Hour, oils. © Jon Bøe Paulsen, shared with permission.
Paulsen’s process includes photographing tableaus and models to work from in his final paintings. He says, “It would be impossible for models to hold their poses over extended periods while maintaining the precise light I want to create. I believe your art must go in a direction where the photograph cannot follow!”
Jon Bøe Paulsen, Olivia, oils. © Jon Bøe Paulsen, shared with permission.
Paulsen’s award-winning work has been included in more than 60 solo and group exhibitions, featured in numerous art publications, and is in public and private collections around the world.
