A brush stroke of genius BY EMIRA GRBAC, MARKETING INTERN AND NICOLE ROACHE, MARKETING MANAGER
Paul Erkilla has been a cleaner at the College for four years. He is well-loved and known by the students and staff for his dedication and commitment to College but now is famous as the school’s new Vincent Van Gogh! 20 Ad Astra Issue No 141
Paul generously donated this painting to the College in the hope it would inspire a new generation of young talent. The idea for the painting came about when music teacher Dr Phil Bohun approached Paul after discovering Paul’s self-professed ‘quirky’ paintings. From violet crumble coastlines to swimming birds, Paul’s exceptional work was perfectly suited to inspire the minds of art and music students.
The painting depicts the iconic College Pegasus statue in Helicon Place being “brought to life by a College string orchestra. As the music soars, led by a confident conductor, the Pegasus takes flight on its way to the stars.” If you look closely, in the background, you can see Bellerophon overlooking the action. Paul decided to add the Corinthian hero to the artwork after a chance conversation with Dr Peter Miller, who explained that Bellerophon
