A True Renaissance Man

DEE DEE: Since Paul was a little boy, he’s been drawing pictures, particularly of people. He has drawings that he made when he was eight or nine that look like the work of a mature artist. He loves to create things with his hands and in his mind and heart.

PAUL: When I was in my thirties, I wanted to figure out how I could study art. I audited some classes at the Art Students League in New York. I observed figure and architectural drawing and painting and found them too quiet. When I asked the receptionist where the sculpture department was, she pointed downstairs. I followed the sounds of hammering and clay being pounded. On the landing, I encountered a man whom I recognized as the renowned sculptor and instructor Jose de Creeft, whose beautiful bronze Alice in Wonderland sculpture can be found in Central Park.

I said to him, “Maestro, I’m a painter, but…” At the same moment we held our hands out as if we were each holding a nugget of gold. We said in unison “sculpture.” I was in the right place.

I watched his classes making armatures, playing with clay, studying models for a bit, and immediately went back upstairs to enroll. I started working on a sculpture of a nude, but I had to leave to make a movie. It took me thirty years to get back into it.

At the age of sixty, I bought a book on bronze sculpting and dove in. Since then I have made more than twenty pieces of bronze, some life-size or larger and some as small as my hand.

DEE DEE: Our big project together was a commission for a bust of Jackie Robinson. Paul had three weeks to finish the sculpture, which was to be unveiled in Times Square. He couldn’t seem to get it right. His first attempt looked like Burt Reynolds. The next was off, too. He was ready to give up.

“You can do this and you will,” I said. “You can’t let Jackie down.” He finished at 2:00 in the morning. The statue was still warm when we sent it off the next day.

PAUL: Without Dee Dee’s support, I never would have finished. She believes in me, and she’s also tough!

I now look forward to creating a large bronze of Prince.

My interest in art goes far beyond mild participation. It has been a lifelong love affair. The only thing I love more is Dee Dee.

DEE DEE: When Paul finishes a piece and when a sculpture is installed, we take our celebration of the event seriously. We always choose Paul’s favorite foods. Sometimes we celebrate alone with a romantic dinner and sometimes we host a party for good friends.