Paul Lewin, Visual artist/painter
Oakland, CA
Paul, sheltering in place in Oakland, CA
Aside from your creative work do you have any additional source of income?
No
Who do you live with and how do you feel about that?
Alone. And I love it. I enjoy the freedom of being able to exist in my own space without compromise. I’m very specific in the way I maintain my environment in order to be creative.
How are you spending your time?
My days are spent mainly working on art, getting on social media, talking to friends, and watching way too much news.
How is the pandemic impacting you?
Well I’ve definitely been feeling some anxiety. Some days are better than others. When the first reports started coming in on the severity of the situation, it was incredibly difficult to focus on art. I was growing more worried each day about the health and safety of my family, my friends, and my community. I have a lot friends who have lost jobs. I know a lot of artists who have had events and shows cancelled. Events that were crucially important to their ability to make a living. For myself I am worried about what sales might look like for the duration of this epidemic and for my own health.
What do you want to accomplish personally and/or professionally during this time?
I still want to accomplish my original goals that I set out for this year. There will be difficult days ahead, but remaining creative and being able to focus are integral to my making a living. I’m not sure what the statistics are on how art sells during a pandemic. Everything feels so uncertain. I do believe though, that art, music, and creativity in all forms will play a vital roll in our mental health. For me the process of creating art is the biggest component of my self-care regimen. And if the work I create can in anyway help someone else to feel some sense of connection or just a momentary escape from all this, that would be a great.
What kind of world do you want to see on the other side of this?
I would love to see a world where we value the lives of our fellow citizens more. A world where we realize exactly why healthcare is a human right for everyone. I think our current situation clearly shows that.
How can people find you and support you and your work?
@paullewinart (instagram)