Picking up a paintbrush wasn’t unprecedented for Paul Stanley. Throughout his career with the rock band KISS, applying face paint was a precursor to an over-the-top performance. But eight years ago, a painful divorce let him to extend his reach. Stanley had kept a sketchbook for years, and a friend who saw his drawings urged him to try his hand at painting as a form of catharsis.
Stanley bought canvases “without a clue of what to do” and began painting. The only ground rules he set for himself were that he “wasn’t going to get bogged down with trying to depict things too realistically at the expense of emotion or immediacy.”
Los Angeles resident Stanley, who describes his early works as a “stream of consciousness using color and texture instead of words,” says an unsigned painting he created and hung in his house repeatedly resonated with visitors. “People would ask me who did it and where it was from,” he says. Their interest was enough to convince him that his paintings might have a broader purpose beyond private catharsis. He was quickly proved right.
On stage Paul Stanley, singer and guitarist of the band KISS, sings about wanting to "rock and roll all night, and party every day." But this 56-year-old father of sons Evan, 13, and Colin, 1, would really rather have a good night's sleep. Give this rock star dad a round of applause.
By PATTY A. MARTINEZ
You've traded the superstar lifestyle of LA's Viper Room for the Diaper Room. What are some of your day-to-day duties?
At 6 A.M. I was up with Colin. I changed, dressed and fed him, then we played together and watched Baby Einstein DVD's. Mornings are my favorite time of day. And as soon as we're off the phone, I'll pick Evan up from school.
Sounds like you're and involved dad.
You have to be hands on. But I'm fortunate: When I'm not on tour I'm here seven days a week, 24 hours a day. I probably take on more of the load than most fathers. And, of course, my wife, Erin, is amazing. She's always there for the kids, making them feel special.
Paul is featured in the latest 944 Magazine including exclusive photos inside of Paul’s art gallery.
KISS' Legendary Lead Singer Paints a Pretty Picture
Even at home, the KISS frontman rocks a P.A. system. "Honey," Paul Stanley says into an intercom, his voice echoing from speakers throughout his Spanish mansion.
"We're going out to the studio."
Stanley's attractive wife of two and a half years appears and agrees to keep an eye out for the tardy photographer. He gives her a goodbye peck and then, as he leads the way to his painting studio, he says to me out of the corner of his mouth, "Not a model. Not an actress. An attorney."
Stanley and his wife welcomed their first child together 19 months ago, and since then, this rocker's mansion has become part Romper Room. We walk by an avalanche of toys in the center of the room, and there are certainly enough child-proof gates around the home to make the U.S.-Mexico border toddler-safe.
The interview with Paul is now slated to air Friday night on NBC TV Channel 4 Los Angeles. The segment will focus on Paul’s highly successful career as a painter with a tour of his art studio. We believe the segment will run between 5 and 6PM PST.
