Paul Blaine Henrie
Encyclopedia
Paul Blaine Henrie was an American
painter and illustrator who was best known for seascapes and coastal scenes.
Henrie was born Paul McKinley Henrie in Florida
. He established himself in 1960 in the artist community of Laguna Beach, California
, where he lived in a hillside home with his wife and child. Henrie later moved to Carmel, California.
Henrie became known for his watercolors and palette-knife oil painting
s of California coastal scenes as well as exotic locales he had visited in Tahiti
, Mexico
and New Orleans. In works prior to 1961, his signature is "Paul Henrie" or "Blaine". Afterwards, he signed them "Paul Blaine Henrie".
Henrie was criticized for "prostituting his undeniable talent" because he readily admitted to sometimes pumping out dozens of paintings only to maintain an expensive lifestyle. Henrie boasted he was the "fastest pallette in the west" and could produce several paintings in a day. He said he only did it for sale in tourist trap
-type art galleries "when I need a load of bricks." He said, "It may sound crass, but when I hear the bell and see the carrot, I'm gone."
Henrie reserved his best work for his collectors and several prestigious galleries like the Grand Central Art Galleries
in New York
. Notable celebrities who bought his work included Vincent Price
, John Wayne
, Frank Sinatra, and Princess Margaret.
Henrie also illustrated two books for young adults, Legendary outlaws of the West (1976) and Legendary Women of the West (1978), and wrote a how-to art book titled Painting in the South Seas.
, Henrie made an unsuccessful run for a seat on the city council in 1988.
In May 1992, Henrie was arrested for selling more than 30 forged artworks
that he alleged were done by Joan Miro
, to a Monterrey art shop for $42,000. It was ascertained that Henrie was the painter after his palm print was found in the paint of one of the pieces. Henrie only faced one count of misdemeanor forgery because authorities could prove only that one painting was his work. He pled guilty in October 1992 and was fined $12000 and faced one year in jail.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter and illustrator who was best known for seascapes and coastal scenes.
Henrie was born Paul McKinley Henrie in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He established himself in 1960 in the artist community of Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
, where he lived in a hillside home with his wife and child. Henrie later moved to Carmel, California.
Henrie became known for his watercolors and palette-knife oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
s of California coastal scenes as well as exotic locales he had visited in Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and New Orleans. In works prior to 1961, his signature is "Paul Henrie" or "Blaine". Afterwards, he signed them "Paul Blaine Henrie".
Henrie was criticized for "prostituting his undeniable talent" because he readily admitted to sometimes pumping out dozens of paintings only to maintain an expensive lifestyle. Henrie boasted he was the "fastest pallette in the west" and could produce several paintings in a day. He said he only did it for sale in tourist trap
Tourist trap
A tourist trap is an establishment, or group of establishments, that has been created with the aim of attracting tourists and their money...
-type art galleries "when I need a load of bricks." He said, "It may sound crass, but when I hear the bell and see the carrot, I'm gone."
Henrie reserved his best work for his collectors and several prestigious galleries like the Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Notable celebrities who bought his work included Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
, John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, Frank Sinatra, and Princess Margaret.
Henrie also illustrated two books for young adults, Legendary outlaws of the West (1976) and Legendary Women of the West (1978), and wrote a how-to art book titled Painting in the South Seas.
Later years
After moving to Carmel-by-the-Sea, CaliforniaCarmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
, Henrie made an unsuccessful run for a seat on the city council in 1988.
In May 1992, Henrie was arrested for selling more than 30 forged artworks
Art forgery
Art forgery is the creation of works of art which are falsely attributed to other, usually more famous, artists. Art forgery can be extremely lucrative, but modern dating and analysis techniques have made the identification of forged artwork much simpler....
that he alleged were done by Joan Miro
Joan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...
, to a Monterrey art shop for $42,000. It was ascertained that Henrie was the painter after his palm print was found in the paint of one of the pieces. Henrie only faced one count of misdemeanor forgery because authorities could prove only that one painting was his work. He pled guilty in October 1992 and was fined $12000 and faced one year in jail.