Friends mourn sudden death of Orlando artist
Friends and fans this weekend were mourning the sudden death of Paul T. Scarborough.
The well-known Orlando artist died Friday, Sept. 21, of a heart attack, friends said. He was 56.
“He was a moving force in our city,” posted artist Scott E. Michaud on Facebook. “He inspired so many artists.”
Barbara Hartley, executive director of Orlando’s Downtown Arts District, posted a photo of a triptych Scarborough created honoring the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in “One City — One Pulse: An Artistic Tribute.”
“He was a bright light in the Orlando art scene,” Hartley wrote. “Paul was incredibly talented and generous with his time, mentoring others.”
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Scarborough grew up on Florida’s Space Coast. His family moved to Florida when he was 5 — and shortly after, he started painting. The young boy was inspired and influenced by his new environment — “a pristine area rich in nature, wildlife and spectacular sunrises,” he explained in an official biography.
Scarborough graduated from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 1983, and he later worked as an advertising art director. But in 2005, Scarborough left advertising behind to pursue painting full time.
His early work was full of broad-stroke watercolors that with vivid colors evoked impressionism. He later turned to oil and acrylic paintings, in 2010 creating a series of works reflecting spiritual and physical indulgence.
“I find my work is graduating to an abstraction level, and I think I’m OK doing that,” he said in a 2014 video interview at a FAVO First Friday event. “I can scribble and get away with it, have my art look like a 2-year-old did it,” he quipped.
Scarborough had a studio at FAVO — the Faith Arts Village Orlando artist complex north of downtown.
“Paul was huge in the life of FAVO and part of the FAVO family,” wrote artist Will Benson, FAVO executive director. “I am heartbroken.”
In the video, Scarborough said he was finding success with his move to abstracts. In a 2015 exhibition at Valencia College, he displayed a collection of abstract paintings featuring bold colors and juxtaposing symbols of human sensuality against themed landscapes.
Among the many collections to contain his work are those of the City of Orlando and its Mennello Museum of American Art and Orlando International Airport. For 15 years, he was a regular on the southeastern art-show circuit, selling works to many private collectors.
Besides Valencia, he also exhibited at local locations as varied as the Art Gallery at Mills Park, the University of Central Florida art gallery, Mead Garden and at the popular Nude Nite annual pop-up art event.
Besides his artistic talent, friends also remembered him as an animal lover; this summer, he was helping find “forever homes” for four kittens in foster care. And they honored his “gentle spirit.”
“I will miss your warm smile and kind words,” wrote artist Bonnie Sprung. “I know the Heavens will be painted in vibrant colors.” LOTTERY