Kiss the canvas: Paul Stanley of Kiss fame brings his art to St. Louis
BY COREY STULCE
Paul Stanley doesn’t like a blank canvas. Just check out his chest, full of dark curls, which he’s showed off thousands of times for KISS Army members around the globe.
KISS is currently on its 35th anniversary tour, which has seen the beloved band stop in Australia, Russia and all over Europe. But Stanley is taking some time off the road — sans Starchild makeup — to visit St. Louis and show off his paintings.
One might expect the art from a member of a band whose initials were thought to stand for “Knights in Satan’s Service” to be a bit on the twisted side. “Like human sacrifices or something? I never have gone on record or told anybody that my life was dark or heavy or ominous,” Stanley said.
Instead, when he visits West County Center’s Wentworth Art Gallery on Aug. 1 and 2, expect to see colorful, textured images of hearts, peace symbols and moons. It’s the softer side of Stanley.
The busy rocker with two successful careers in the arts took some time for a Q&A.
I still paint for the same reasons I always have, to make myself happy.
Written by Jim Ousley
KISS' main man Paul Stanley is trekking back to St.Louis for what is sure to be another successful, packed-to-the-gills art-show at Wentworth Gallery. Last time he was in town, the line stretched outside the gallery and two rows down the mall corridor. While you won't get bombs, babes and classic tunes, you'll be able to take a look at some of the Starchild's highly sought-after collection of abstracts, painted by the man himself. We had a brief window of time in which to speak, and at the sound of my "Lick It Up" ring tone, Stanley was on the line.
Last time we spoke, you said you were going to be getting into sculptures. Have you started any pieces yet, and how soon will we see them?
The final drawings are done, and we're probably a couple of weeks from taking the next step. They're steel sculptures, and I actually painted over them. The color is baked in, and then they're sealed in a clear coating. So, they're very striking and I'm really excited about it.
This article ran as the cover story in last Friday's Pottstown Mercury.
By Jan Feighner, Special to The Mercury
Paul Stanley, Kiss’s infamous frontman, has spent over 30 years perfecting his craft. He has written many of the rock band’s songs and recorded and performed solo. He has starred in two successful runs of The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto, stretching his musical abilities to new heights.
Despite decades of honing his voice and instrumentals, Stanley, born Stanley Harvey Eisen, in Queens, New York, never ignored the art training he received at New York City’s High School of Music and Art. He designed the group’s signature make-up, album covers, several costumes, and numerous stage sets.
Following some personal and physical setbacks late in his career, Stanley craved a new creative outlet. A friend suggested he try painting, which he never really pursued during his school days. He pondered the notion, then bought supplies, established his home studio, and discovered a new love, beginning with a self-portrait. In 2005 he presented his work to the world.
I got a chance to meet and hang out with Paul during his art show at the Wentworth Gallery in King of Prussia, PA. There were some people who were really disappointed that they didn’t get a chance to meet him. I just wanted to say that in interviews and such Paul tries to make it clear to everyone that the reason he is making appearances at Wentworth is specifically to meet those fans who’ve bought his art. At record signings or conventions Paul spends a lot of time signing CD’s, posters and memorabilia for everyone when that is the reason he’s there. He did address the crowd several times to let them know how much he appreciates all of us and the turnout, and that there are folks who genuinely like his art, which is a whole other side of his creative expression. Someone grumbled that they had spent a lot of money through the years for concerts and CD’s and stuff and felt Paul was rude to not meet them. I say when you pay for a concert ticket you’re paying for that performance, not entitlement to every minute of the guy’s life. Give me a break and get real.
I heard Paul and an older dude talking about Jimi Hendrix’s fingers, about how long they were, and how his own fingers were small by comparison. Paul saw Jimi play live twice when Paul was a teenager – one of his reasons for wanting to be a rock n roll star. One of his paintings, Purple Haze, is Paul’s homage to Jimi. Some people can draw pictures of Jimi, but Paul tried to abstractly capture a memory and an experience. Very cool stuff.
I had a chance to talk to Paul about one of his art works called "The World Below". I studied art and I paint and I told him how much I like that one. He said that was one of his newer pieces and talked about what inspired it. He spent a lot – A LOT – of his time with the people there who had bought his art. For what was supposed to have been a one hour reception, Paul stayed 5 HOURS, talking to everyone, having his photo taken with them by a KISS tour photographer, and even though he asks no one to take photos, he let most people take photos. Some people who brought guitars , CD’s or other stuff with them got those signed too. So for those people who knock Paul at his art shows, I can only say please take a minute to think why he is there. The show was up for a month giving people a chance to see if it was something they wanted to do. Wentworth offers 24 month interest free financing, so even people who thought they couldn’t buy something were able to get one and have a memory that will last a lifetime. Paul signed the art for them, had his photo taken, etc. The guy was completely accessible and generous with his time for those who took the time to understand the rules. I talked to one of his friends who was there and was told that Paul stayed those extra hours just for those had bought something and who had waited in line so long to meet him. I heard him on the phone cancelling a flight. The dude has a wife and family that he hasn’t see much of while KISS toured Europe. All in all, I was pretty impressed with Paul’s accessibility.
Pictured are a few photos from Paul's King of Prussia Art show yesterday.
Paul will presents his Collection of Paintings and Limited Editions at the Missouri Wentworth Gallery this upcoming weekend. The Gallery is located on the lower level in West County Center, Des Peres, Missouri.
He will make two special appearances at the gallery on Friday, August 1, 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, August 2, 5-8 p.m. An exclusive, closed-door VIP reception is scheduled prior to Saturday’s appearance from 4-5 pm.
Please call the gallery for more information at 314-821-8884 or 1-800-732-6140.
Wentworth Gallery, one of the nation's leading fine art retailers is pleased to present two art exhibitions by artist, rock icon and legendary KISS frontman, Paul Stanley. He will make two special appearances at the Wentworth Gallery in King of Prussia, PA
Both appearances are open to the public and free of charge
Friday - July 25, 2008 - -7-9 PM
Saturday - July 26, 2008 -- 5-8 PM
Wentworth Gallery - The Court at King of Prussia
690 West Dekalb Pike - King of Prussia, PA
For details on the VIP Reception with Paul on Saturday - July 26, 2008 4-5 PM or to RSVP call - 610-337-8988 or 800-732-6140
Paul will appear on CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch Monday, July 21, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. / 1:00 a.m. ET. The show will highlight Paul’s immense success in the music and art worlds.
For Paul Stanley, missing an opportunity to go on a guided tour of The Louvre in France because of some other obligations was unfortunate.
After all, one of the most visited art museums in the world is home to many famous works, like Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," something an artist like Stanley likely would appreciate seeing in person.
But Stanley isn't just another artist. He's probably better known for being able to rock and roll all night and party every day as the flamboyant frontman for the legendary rock band KISS.
And despite the fact that KISS completed its most successful tour of Europe ever in the band's long history - playing 29 concerts in seven weeks that concluded in late June - it's Stanley's artwork that takes center stage once he puts down his guitar.
Local KISS fans, as well as art aficionados, will get a chance to view some of that artwork when Stanley makes two special appearances at the Wentworth Gallery in King of Prussia Mall Friday, July 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, July 26, from 5 to 8 p.m.
"I look forward to painting," said Stanley in a telephone interview from Paris a few weeks before KISS wrapped up the European tour. "It's something that I take a certain amount of . . . oh, I don't know . . . there is a calming factor to know that at the end of this tour, I get to go into a room by myself and create from another part of my brain."
Paul Stanley of Kiss fame brings his art to St. Louis
BY COREY STULCE
Paul Stanley doesn’t like a blank canvas. Just check out his chest, full of dark curls, which he’s showed off thousands of times for KISS Army members around the globe.
KISS is currently on its 35th anniversary tour, which has seen the beloved band stop in Australia, Russia and all over Europe. But Stanley is taking some time off the road — sans Starchild makeup — to visit St. Louis and show off his paintings.
One might expect the art from a member of a band whose initials were thought to stand for “Knights in Satan’s Service” to be a bit on the twisted side. “Like human sacrifices or something? I never have gone on record or told anybody that my life was dark or heavy or ominous,” Stanley said.
Instead, when he visits West County Center’s Wentworth Art Gallery on Aug. 1 and 2, expect to see colorful, textured images of hearts, peace symbols and moons. It’s the softer side of Stanley.
The busy rocker with two successful careers in the arts took some time for a Q&A.
"I don't bring guitars into my painting studio, and I don't bring paintbrushes on stage," he said in a recent phone interview. "You have to be able to close one door when you open another."
Obviously, the KISS frontman still rocks all night -- three and a half decades after his glam metal band formed. In fact, they've been tearing it up on the European leg of the KISS Alive/35 World Tour.
"(It's) the most successful tour ever. … Our fans now more than ever realize in a world of boring bands, there's only one KISS," said Stanley, who speaks softly, carefully considering his words.
"I've always fought to make sure that KISS was everything it can be and should be. The day it falls short of that or I fall short of that, I'll stay home," he said.
Not that he doesn't stay close to his California residence, where he lives with his second wife, Erin Sutton, whom he wed in 2005, and their son, who'll turn 2 this fall.
"We have no greater responsibility than to guide our children. That's why I'm home most of the time," he said. "My philosophy, particularly with my children, is they don't have a voice to vote. … If they did, their voice would be, 'Dad, stay home.' "
Still, Stanley doesn't plan to cease performing any time soon. His band's longevity in an often-fickle industry has been relatively easy, he said, because, "When we do go out, we commit ourselves to being everything that people expect.
Kiss singer PAUL STANLEY fell into a funk after his 2001 divorce. His lifeline was unexpected: a paintbrush.
"Pouring out how I feel onto a canvas is both solitary and cathartic," says Stanley, whose dabbling has turned serious. His art sales topped $2 million last year, and a new exhibit of his work is set for July 25-26 at the Wentworth Gallery in King of Prussia, Pa.
Reporter Marco R. della Cava asked Jeff Marinelli, publisher of Art and Living magazine, to weigh in on the non-musical hits of the rock star.
"When I look at Paul's work, I immediately think, "Peter Max,' " says Marinelli, referring to the American pop artist whose bold colors and psychedelic visions helped define the '60s.
Stanley's similarly color-packed creations have themes that change from canvas to canvas. Some images are iconic (the Statue of Liberty) while others appear personal (a heart inside a gaping mouth).
"He seems to pick what he'll paint just as he steps up to the easel," says Marinelli. He adds with a laugh: "A guy like Paul Stanley has fun when he paints something like a vase with flowers. It's a chance to show that Kiss has a sensitive side."
