Creating Beauty

In Paul Umbarger’s artistic family, a sensibility that runs toward harmony has been passed down through the generations, as well as a central concern for the quality of the artwork that is made. Paul organized a special art exhibit - in July, 2017 - featuring the work of four generations of artists in his own family. He developed a catalogue to commemorate the exhibition, honor his family’s artistic legacy, and celebrate the joy of creative work. The result is CREATING BEAUTY: Four Generations of American Artists. With biographical essays of each artist, enhanced by generous examples of their work, this book illuminates life stories and creative practices in heartwarming fashion. Exhibition artwork is elegantly presented in 67 full color images. An Appendix includes journal entries and several other enlightening materials written by the artists. With 177 images in all, CREATING BEAUTY is a volume that every lover of art will enjoy.

In Paul Umbarger’s artistic family, a sensibility that runs toward harmony has been passed down through the generations, as well as a central concern for the quality of the artwork that is made. Paul organized a special art exhibit - in July, 2017 - featuring the work of four generations of artists in his own family. He developed a catalogue to commemorate the exhibition, honor his family’s artistic legacy, and celebrate the joy of creative work. The result is CREATING BEAUTY: Four Generations of American Artists. With biographical essays of each artist, enhanced by generous examples of their work, this book illuminates life stories and creative practices in heartwarming fashion. Exhibition artwork is elegantly presented in 67 full color images. An Appendix includes journal entries and several other enlightening materials written by the artists. With 177 images in all, CREATING BEAUTY is a volume that every lover of art will enjoy.

Paul Umbarger was born into a family of visual artists and began painting in earnest at age 30, when he attended the Marchutz School of Art in Aix-en-Provence, France. He developed both a love of and a facility for plein aire painting, and over the years generated a significant body of work. His mother and his son are also painters; it was because of their fine creations, and the life-like bird carvings of his grandmother, that he was inspired to honor his family’s artistic legacy with a four-generation exhibition and catalogue. CREATING BEAUTY is a convergence of his love of writing, painting, photography, family, history, and design. It is his first book. Paul also writes poetry, essays, and songs. He served as editor for his wife, Caren Umbarger, when she published her first novel, COMING TO: A MIDWESTERN TALE, which won a Florida Book Award in 2011. In the musical realm, he is a composer/arranger, private studio teacher, band leader, and professional guitar player and singer since 1981. He and his wife, as the Island Duet, wrote and recorded two original CDs: NEW WORLD ARISING (2015) and THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE (2016). Now living in St. Augustine Beach, Florida, Paul enjoys body surfing, gardening, golf and tennis, canoeing, adventures in nature, and Mexican train dominos with friends.