Paul Brent

Paul Brent is an artist whose work has become internationally known to represent the coastal lifestyle. From his watercolors to his recent oil paintings he captures nature in its best and most idyllic form. While being best known for his beach subjects, he has painted florals, still lives and landscapes that are equally indicative of his talent to recreate all aspects of nature. Paul Brent was born in Oklahoma City and lived in rural Southwest Oklahoma with his family until he was thirteen. His parents, who were educators, moved their family to Long Beach California and Paul attended high school and California State College in Long Beach. He majored in art but in his junior year of college he transferred to the University of California at Berkeley to study architecture. He completed his Bachelors of Architecture and joined the Air Force where he was stationed in Panama City, Florida. There he met his wife, Lana Jane and after they were married he left the service and they returned to California where he completed his Masters degree in Architecture at Cal Berkeley. After completing his studies they returned to Panama City, Florida.

From the beginning of his life in California Paul Brent was enamored with the coast. So different from the Southwest where he was born, the water and sand were elements that he began to incorporate in his artwork. His time in Florida began with renting a beach cottage on the white sands and turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There he painted in watercolors and captured the sight of shorebirds, shells and tropical fish. Coastal landscapes sail boats, and fishing boats soon were added to his repertoire of subjects. The unique town of Seaside was under development and Paul Brent began painting the vernacular beach cottages that were being built. Lighthouses along Florida’s coasts as well as the Atlantic and Pacific coasts all became subjects for him to paint. Paul also enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean and to Bermuda where he was inspired by the tropical lushness and quaint architecture.

In the past few years Paul Brent has begun to paint in oil both on panels and on canvas. His first oils reflected the transparent tradition of his watercolors by he soon moved on to richer layered paintings that explore the depth of color possible with oil paint. A series called “Plantation Home” was painted that reflected vintage Hawaiian subjects. His latest work has the feeling of collage as he works with both watercolor and oil to create images that are graphically composed with stamps, textures, calligraphy and found objects.

Paul Brent has been licensing his work for almost twenty years and now lists over 70 manufacturers with whom he does business. He and his wife, Lana Jane, head the business that includes both licensing and an art gallery of Paul Brent’s work in Panama City Florida. Paul Brent has been profiled in many publications including the Wall Street Journal, Coastal Living, Florida Monthly that designated him Best Artist in Florida, and many more. He is a signature member of the National and Florida Watercolor Societies and a member of the Society of Illustrators. He had authored a book on watercolor instruction titled Wonderful Watercolors and illustrated the children’s book J. Rooker, Manatee.

Paul Brent has been active in arts and planning organizations both locally and in the state of Florida. He served on the board and was president of Bay Arts Alliance. He served on the board of the Florida Arts Council and the Florida Humanities Council. He is a member of the Panama City Downtown Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Board and a member of the Panama City Board of Architects.