Paul Schulenburg Is Living The Dream

ORLEANS – Painting was never supposed to be a career for Paul Schulenburg. It just turned out that way.

 In the 1990s, Schulenburg, an Eastham resident, was working prolifically as a freelance illustrator for corporate clients. But at the encouragement of his wife, he started to put his fine arts degree to good use by painting on the side. Eventually, his paintings found a home at the Addison Art Gallery on South Orleans Road.

 “My illustration work was much more concept-oriented, telling a story,” he said. “So it was quite different. I didn’t plan on making the transition. I did it just as a little sideline, putting paintings in a gallery just for fun. But [gallery owner Helen Addison] started selling them immediately.”

 Fast forward 25 years, and Schulenburg has amassed an extensive body of work as a painter, much of it having been exhibited at the gallery. On July 12, a casual reception will be held at the gallery from 5 to 7 p.m., where visitors can meet the artist and learn more about his work and career.

 “Who knew that it would be more practical to become a fine artist?” he said of his unexpected shift from illustration into painting full time.

 Schulenburg has lived on the Cape since 1993, and grew up vacationing on the peninsula with his family as a young boy. A native of New York, he grew up with an interest in cartoons and comic books, and as a kid he started drawing and sketching with a group of friends.

 “We’d get together, and instead of playing a video game together we’d start a cartoon drawing and pass it back and forth,” he recalled.

 Art ran in the family. His grandfather was a painter, and he recalled growing up with oil paintings around his childhood home. His mother recognized his talents and encouraged him.

 “She’d say ‘Oh, this is a gift. You got it from your grandfather,’” he said.

 The Cape and its scenic environs have long influenced Schulenburg’s work. His paintings capture various slices of Cape Cod life, from people at the beach to fishermen working and unloading their catch at local fish piers. 

 “It’s more just about light and color, and just capturing a moment,” he said of his painting. 

 The July 12 event will be held in advance of his annual exhibition at the gallery, which runs through July 22. On July 19, he will host a slideshow presentation of his work and his life as an artist which will be available via Zoom.

 Schulenburg has been prolific in his artistic production, a fact that revealed itself with the publication of a book highlighting his work in 2020. In preparing the book, he said he combed through thousands of pieces to identify about 100 for publication.

 “It was crazy to put the book together and look back and think, ‘Oh, look at all these things I’ve done,’” he said. “But it’s nice that we have this ability to save things photographically so I can realize what I have done in the past.”

 In a press release corresponding with the July 12 event, Schulenburg said while having his paintings showcased in a gallery had long been a dream, it was for a long time one he never thought would be realized.

 “For the past 25 years that dream has been a reality,” he said. “It’s not always easy, but it has been rewarding and fulfilling, while enabling me to do what I love to do.”