Rising Stars: Meet Paul Punzo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Punzo.

Paul, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Mostly a self-taught artist, I started working with Linoleum block because I had limited space to work so it was easy to explore as a medium. My first show was at the social service league where I used to buy shirts and frames, take them home and put art in the frames, print on the shirts and then sneak them back in. They caught me and invited be part of a group show. Did yearly shows with essential goods which helped push me to put shows together in new ways through different mediums and ways to make art fresh. 11 years later and I have hit a stride and understand my voice but also where I fit In the art scene.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Art is the most wonderful thing in the world. I wouldn’t call them struggles more like challenges or questions about myself. At some point, I had to understand that I would compare someone’s else’s art not only to my art but how I felt about myself as a whole and realizing that it wasn’t fair to the other artist, my art, me or this world we are all part of was a turning point.

On a literal point, I am horrible with time management and I am constantly running in 4 minutes after the time I said I would show up to hang art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
A couple of years ago, I started working with stencils in block printing instead of either layers colors with other blocks, hand painting layers then to stenciling. I worked with L.A. artist Brad Clark on these luchador silkscreened prints with a variety of background print that I brought from Kansas and I learned about this technique and from then, I could make bright vibrant ink wash backgrounds and still print on top. I did 405 prints for a print week exhibition with this idea. I could still mass-produce prints but they would all be authentic and special. My voice is unique, much like so many artists I know from the years that we all get to sing together and live the world of art.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
So many folks… Bill Newell who taught me how to draw. Percolator Artspace which I was on the board off for five years and was given opportunities to hang so many different kinds of art shows and help curate of few as well. Brad Clark for so many things. Laura Ramberg who taught me about breathing space and whether a piece of art was supposed to be for your eyes or your soul. Essential Goods, after our first art show, we were doing high-fives and I said let’s do it again next year …that lasted nine years. My partner Ellen for her honesty and patience living with someone who works a full-time job and does art part-time. Cosimo my studio cat. Artist inc. who helped me understand the business side. I can keep going, Lawrence has such a wonderful community of artists. Mom ❤️

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Elgatoprinting
• Facebook: Paulpunzo
• Other: Etsy @elgatoprinting