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!

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

was the only person to ride the Pegasus. To create his artwork, Paul used images as reference points and then superimposed the Pegasus onto it. “It was quite a process, but that’s what I love about painting, it’s a learning process, and with every painting you do, you get better”. One of the challenges Paul faced, that the grounds staff can likely sympathise with, was the Boston Ivy that wraps around the school walls and windows. “It changes so quickly” from a vibrant green to red and then dying”. Paul hopes this painting will inspire music and art students and the College community to “use their minds and think outside of the box”. to our hearts, and this painting is a wonderful example of the inspiration it provides, not only to our students but our talented and well-rounded staff.

Never judge a book by its cover, or an artist by his brush because you never know what wonders the pages of their lives contain.