Paul VerBurg

Biography

Paul VerBurg was born in Newfoundland, Canada and his pursuit of the “perfect line” began at an early age. His professional art career began in the 1970’s simply, with black and white imagery, and has grown to encompass several different media and techniques. Paul’s art education included the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California State University Fullerton, and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he recently received his BFA. He presently resides “among the tall pines” in historic Prescott, Arizona.

Artist Statement

“Artwork of any kind has the unique ability to reach its audience in a very personal way, color translating into feeling and shapes recalling memories. In this way the artist’s hand is instrumental as a tool of transportation, taking the casual viewer of his work to places they’ve never (or seldom) been, thus allowing them to experience a sense of place through new eyes. I would hope that with my work I have shown you that new place.”

Art Education

2009 BFA, Drawing and Painting, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Chicago, Illinois

Awards

Awards and Commissions

2009 Nippon Steel Award

         SAIC Academic Incentive Scholarship

         SAIC Recognition of Merit Scholarship

2008 REMET Reshaping Our Future, sculpture competition. Runner-up

         SAIC Academic Incentive Scholarship

         SAIC Recognition of Merit Scholarship

2007 Best in Show 2D, Yavapai Community College Spring Student Exhibition

         SAIC Academic Incentive Scholarship

         SAIC Recognition of Merit Scholarship

2002 Commissioned poster artist for Territory Days, Old Colorado City, Colorado

1999 First Place Award, mixed media, Phippen Museum Western Art Show

1998 Commissioned poster artist for Brush! Rodeo, Brush!, Colorado

         Second Place Award, mixed media, Phippen Museum Western Art Show

1992-98 Commissioned poster artist for Goodyear Rodeo Days, Goodyear, Arizona

1997 Commissioned poster artist for Brush! Rodeo, Brush!, Colorado

         First Place, pencil drawing, Glendale Arts Council 34th Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition

1996 Commissioned poster artist for Coors Brewing Company, celebrating the 100TH

                                  Anniversary of Cheyenne Frontier Days

         Second Place Award, mixed media, Phippen Museum Western Art Show

         Second Place Award, oil painting, Phippen Museum Western Art Show

1993 Commissioned poster artist for the Buckeye Rodeo, Buckeye, Arizona

1992 Bronze Medal Mixed Media, 16th Annual Festival of Western Art

         Commissioned poster artist for the Buckeye Rodeo, Buckeye, Arizona

1991 Kansa Award, Best of Show, AICA Wichita

         Western Heritage Award, AICA Wichita

         Gold Medal Mixed Media, AICA Wichita

         Gold Medal Mixed Media, 15th Annual Festival of Western Art 

         Commissioned poster artist for the Buckeye Rodeo, Buckeye, Arizona

1990 Gold Medal Mixed Media, AICA Wichita

         Bronze Medal Mixed Media, 14TH Annual Festival of Western Art

         Selected as Poster Artist AICA Wichita

1989 Bronze Medal Mixed Media, 13th Annual Festival of Western Art

1988 Gold Medal Mixed Media, 12th Annual Festival of Western Art

1987 Gold Medal Mixed Media, 11th Annual Festival of Western Art

1983 Commissioned to paint “If I Am A Reflection Why Are You So Different?” Good

                                  Samaritan Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1982 First Award, pencil drawing, Indian Ceremonial and Pow Wow

1981 First Place, National Society of Arts and Letters Drawing Competition

Publications

Yavapai Magazine. September, 2007 “Class Act” pgs.24-25 Susan Coffroth

West Valley View, Vista, October, 1998 “California Native VerBurg Paints Rodeo Art” pg.60

          Georgiann Yara

Western Horseman Magazine. March, 1998 “Gallery” pg.125 Betty Harvey

The Arizona Daily Star, Accent, February 4, 1998 “Artist Showcases the Downside of Cowboy Life”

           pgs.1&5 Ed Severson

Fort Morgan Times, July 3, 1997 “VerBurg Depicts Spirit of Rodeo” pg.13, Barb Boyer

Arizona Republic, West Phoenix Communities, February 14, 1997 “Artist Canvasses the West for

         Images” pg.1-2 Jennifer Barrett

Art of the West Magazine. July/August, 1996 “Don’t Fence Him In” pgs.52-57 Vicki Staving

Potential Vol. XIX, No.2, March/April, 1996 “Encouraging the Artist in Children” pg.1

         Dr. David Kirshenbaum

Arizona Republic, Arizona Style, November 5, 1995 “Artist Paints Impressions of a Rodeo Cowboy’s

         World” pg.6 Eileen Bailey

The Mohave Daily News, Colorado River Weekender Vol. IX, October 19, 1995 “VerBurg Dispels

         Traditional Myth of Macho Cowboys” pg.1, Staff Writer

West Valley View, February, 1993, “Paul VerBurg: Portrait of a Rodeo Artist” pg.R-10 Pier Simeri

Southwest Art Magazine. November, 1992 “Between the Fence Rails” pgs.80-85 Kiana Dicker

Art Talk, October, 1988, “Artists Worth Watching” pg.16 Karl Nordling

Citi Magazine, Winter 1987 “Citipeople” pg.18 Michael Hice

Art Space, Fall 1986, “Santa Fe Letter” pg.53 Barbara Cortwright

New York Times, August 19, 1990, “Cowboys Ride into Sunset as Morning Breaks on Change”

         Sunday Art Section, pg.24 William Zimmer

ARTLINES, August, 1984, “Opinions on Appearance” pg.28 Steven M. Parks

Buenas Noticias, December 1983 “If I am a Reflection Why Are You So Different?” pg.7

         Paul VerBurg