Featured Artist Steve Paulsen

Enjoy the “eye crossing” and mind bending optical art by California artist Steve Paulsen. To see more of his artwork, please visit his website.

 

“Block Party” Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 40” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Block Party” Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 40”

 

From a very earlier age, I have always been fascinated with how the human eye would “fill in the blanks” and try to make sense of what it was seeing, whether it was correct or not.

 

“50/50” Acrylic on Canvas, 12” x 36” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“50/50” Acrylic on Canvas, 12” x 36”

 

Certain patterns would make me feel uneasy or off balance and certain designs could make perfectly straight lines look curved. I loved it, and still do.

 

“Conscious Coupling” Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 30” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Conscious Coupling” Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 30”

 

It wasn’t until I really started to study those concepts that I was able to fully understand what was happening and how to recreate them.

 

“Crimson And Corners” Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 30”by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Crimson And Corners” Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 30”

 

Much of my work deals with optical illusions of space and relationships of color, as well as the reaction of patterns on the eye. Many of the “impossible” paintings that I create are studies of concepts created by Oscar Reutersvard.

 

“Impossible Gold” Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 30” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Impossible Gold” Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 30”

 

Most recently, I’ve been experimenting with creating infinite impossible patterns, based on these concepts. Yes, they are as confusing to draw as they are to look at.

 

“Emerald City” Acrylic on Canvas, 30” x 40” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Emerald City” Acrylic on Canvas, 30” x 40”

 

But, the reaction that people have when looking at the finished pieces makes all of the “eye crossing” worth it.

 

“Midnight Serenade” Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 40” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Midnight Serenade” Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 40”

 

I have always felt that art should be something fun and enjoyable, that you should be able to learn something while experiencing it, that you should have a reaction to it.

 

“October” Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 40” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“October” Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 40”

 

Creating art is my way of sharing what excites me. I try to create a sense of interest and wonder with every piece that I paint, and I hope that people enjoy looking at my paintings as much as I enjoy creating them.

 

Artist Steve Paulsen in his studio. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

Artist Steve Paulsen in his studio.

 

I studied art at the Laguna College of Art & Design in Laguna Beach, California, where I received a BFA in Illustration. For nearly twenty years I worked as an animator creating video games for Playstation.

 

“Over Under” Acrylic on Panel, 12” x 12” by artist Steve Paulsen. See his portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com

“Over Under” Acrylic on Panel, 12” x 12”

 

The experience of creating art on a computer everyday has definitely translated into my style of painting. While much of my creative process does begin on the computer, all of my paintings are hand drawn and hand painted.

 

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