Local and international artist Paul Maxwell presented 18 paintings donated by Sandra Lawhon to faculty and staff in the Fine Arts Center’s Spencer Gallery Nov. 13.   

   Maxwell presented the donated artwork in a 30-minute speech about his life and his work and techniques, while his artwork appeared on a projector screen. The presentation began with a film about his life and work.

   He called the lines and features of a painting vocabulary. He defined vocabulary as an individual line mixing with other lines without losing its integrity. He used a variety of words describing measurement to describe his artwork and used a great deal of lines to create art.

   Scott Lykens, assistant professor of art, different areas of study can mix with art. 

   “I think science and art have always been involved in a poetic way,” Lykens said.

   Sandra Lawhon donated 21 paintings to the University of Arkansas at Monticello totaling over $300,000. She selected UAM, because it is the college with the closest longitude and latitude to Maxwell’s birthplace, Frost Prairie, Ark. Lawhon lives in San Diego, Calif. and is an investment banker, an art collector and a real estate state director.

   Maxwell is painter, sculptor, printmaker, conceptual artist and creator of functional art forms. He uses a variety of media and methods to reflect not only his impressive creativity over the years, but his inventiveness and willingness to receive progressive ideas.   

   Numerous art collections, public and private, exhibit Maxwell’s work throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

   Provost David Ray said he enjoyed the presentation. 

   “Paul Maxwell made an outstanding presentation of his life work in the arts,” Ray said. “I am especially pleased to learn that his works have been collected worldwide.” 

   Maxwell was born in Frost Prairie, Ark, located three miles south of Crossett, in 1928. He saw his first painting at the age of 17 at a museum in Houston, Texas.  He attended Principia College in Elsah, Ill., where he graduated with bachelor’s degree in Arts. He continued his education Claremont Graduate School where he studied with Millard Sheets. While there, he presented his first one-man exhibitions of his paintings at Scripps College.  

   Maxwell also talked in Lykens’s gallery management class the next day. The class talked about the fabrication process involved in specific pieces. Maxwell spoke briefly to the class on how they could talk in a technical way and how students must learn how to speak to the art novice public in vocabulary they understand in order to remain effective speakers.

   Lykens said the students responded well. 

   “The students were very appreciative that someone of his stature in career would take the time and have the desire to speak with them is such rich detail,” Lykens said. 

   UAM received the first five pieces of Maxwell's art in 2005, 13 pieces in 2006 and is anticipating receiving three pieces in December.

   “UAM is fortunate to the repository of a major collection on his works,” Ray said.

   UAM now holds two museum quality collections, the first being the Spencer Collection. 

   To learn more about Maxwell please go to his Web site.