Paul Ygartua
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PAUL YGARTUA · 63 ARTWORKS

European Impressionist Paintings

His European impressionist paintings draw on time spent in Italy, Spain and France. Historic buildings, streets and coastal settings provide subjects for colourful interpretations, reflecting his response to the atmosphere of each place rather than a strictly literal view.

I was born in England and, during my childhood, spent every summer in the Basque Country in Spain, where my father’s family lived. I first started to paint at the age of six alongside my mother, who was also a painter.

— Paul Ygartua

A childhood shaped by painting

Ygartua’s mother gave him the opportunity to paint and draw when he was very young. Summers with his father’s family in the Basque Country connected those first experiences with the streets and buildings of Europe. Later time spent between North America and Europe broadened that source of inspiration, from Italian and Spanish villages to Paris and Barcelona.

Colourful waterfront houses above boats in a harbourPortofinoOutdoor tables and figures under a yellow parasolGranville IslandGolden hilltop buildings with dark cypress treesFrench RivieraAbstract boats and rigging in blue, yellow and pinkWest CoastRed bridge and city buildings with dark outlinesRemember -- ParisWaterfront town and boats in ochre and brownCadaques ModernBridge and buildings amid bright yellow and bluePont NeufOutdoor table and figures beneath pale parasolsAfternoon OutRed waterfront buildings with boats and bright reflectionsPortofino HarbourDomed church beside a canal in warm lightVeniceAngular townscape in red, blue and yellowSitges, SpainWhite domed architecture glowing against dark paintVeniceBoats and bridge in a muted canal sceneEvening in VeniceGolden light above a domed waterfront churchVenice in GoldBoats and waterfront buildings in bright reflected coloursItalian NightsCanal architecture and boats in bright primary coloursVenice in colourFishing boats beneath warm waterfront buildingsCadaques City of PescadoresPale block-like buildings with pink and brown shadowsSouth of SpainBlue canal and boats beneath domed architectureVenice in BlueDense textured buildings in gold and purpleMontmartreColourful waterfront houses beside blue waterSummer in PortofinoNight-time city architecture with yellow highlightsParis by NightBlue boats beneath broad blocks of yellow and pinkLos Barcos en AzulDark seaside buildings with bold pink patchesCosta DoradaGolden domed basilica above a broad staircaseParis ScenesBlue and gold domed architecture beside waterVeniceNight harbour with white lights and red reflectionsHeat of the NightBoats and waterfront arches in yellow and purpleVeniceWhite hillside buildings with warm red roofsReflectionsGolden countryside with a row of cypress treesSouth of FranceDomed architecture and red bridge archesVeniceWaterside buildings with vivid red and blue reflectionsBurmeo, Pais VascoBoats under a bridge between muted canal buildingsVeniceBoat silhouettes across pink, orange and blue waterExquisite ReflectionsWaterfront town and a tower under dark skiesFireworks in SitgesMoored boats beneath yellow and pink skylos barcosBoats below pale harbour buildings and green hillsPortofinoBright canal with boats and red buildingsVenice CanalsPalm trees beside pink and turquoise waterfront marksWaikikiDomed city buildings in muted grey and violetThe Hidden City