CHRONOLOGY

Paul Georges born 1923 to Daisy Ostrow and Thomas Theseus Georges (Poppy). He was raised Jewish in Portland in the 3rd house Poppy converted from a chicken coop (his 1st & 2nd houses burnt down). He attended the same grade school Mark Rothko did, 2 decades later. One of 4 children, Paul skipped school to spend every May thru September with Mom at a rented house at Cannon Beach. 

Paul (L) lived near an ocean his entire life. In his early years he swam daily in the Pacific at Cannon Beach, with his beloved brother Ossie (R). Poppy born (Anastasios Georgios) Greek Orthodox in Medea, Greece 1885, a 2nd son, who without prospects, left his village age 15. He stowed away on a ship bound for America. Tom made himself into a successful American businessman in Portland, Oregon.

Paul's 1st painting made age 16, won 1st Prize at Multnomah County Fair. He bought a car. Friday nights polished his shoes intently before going out swing dancin' & jitterbuggin' at a Catholic girls school. Girls swarmed Paul due to his good looks & agility. The brothers fought: Tommy "the Bully" threw Paul into a glass display case, scars covered one side of his torso forever.

1942 - 1945 WW II

Paul worked at his father's business The Oregon Laundry. He was toughened up from doing grown men's work through-out High School & he survived the War in Asia. His dream of being a dry cleaner died when a guy blew into his coral hell-hole & blood ran out all night, he thought he died laying there. He had an epiphany & decided to do something worthwhile if he survived. Both survive

1946- 1948

Paul went to the University of Oregon at Eugene on the G.I. Bill & found in his 1st art instructor Jack Wilkinson a loyal, lifelong friend & challenging, argumentative conversationalist. Jack taught how to analyze art which Paul considered one of his most valuable abilities. (R) Paul underneath a painting made on Jack's principles. Jack sent Paul to study with Hans Hofmann.

Hofmann School Provincetown, 1947

Summer  

At Hofmann's Paul meets Clement Greenberg, Wolf Kahn, Jane Freilicher, Larry Rivers & a roomful of lifelong artist friends. Rivers nicknames him PG because there are lotsa Pawls there. G.I.'s are older, PG at 26 is the summer's "star painter." 

PG is 3rd to Hofmann's Right    >>>>>  

Photo © Thomas Roderick, Courtesy Renate, Hans + Maria Hofmann Trust        

PG is off to NYC for 6 months on to Paris  in March until the G.I. Bill runs out. The Pacific ocean cold vastness & views of cypress with him. 

Dec 5th 1949 PG met Lisette Blumenfeld. Jan 23rd they married. For 52 years they're extraordinarily, madly in love, inseparable. Always talking.

She rented Albert Marquet's house & studio, Large reasonable price as a share. Jack & family arrived on sabbatical for a year. Margie & D. White share

Painting & living at Marquet's is an artists dream! Lisette's opinion of his work is of great influence now & forever.They get a dog, drive to Italy 

'52 in NYC w/ Paris paintings. 8th St loft slated for demolition above Rosenbergs Art Supply Pollock busting in looking for his friend Busa he's out W

The Club, Cedar Bar, deKooning, Kaldis, Kline, Rosenberg, Hess. Everyone Arguing Friends PG a loud cantankerous, headstrong leader of his generation 

Painting at the beach house in Oregon. Working a laundry route 5 days a week PG's paid $600/week. A 4 week visit enough for the year.

1960-1969 645 Broadway Skylit Illegal loft Stolen utilities 1 electric bar heat Parties, Spagetti dinners Lentils Baths once a month Sleep under coats

Beatniks Openings Parties Dinners. Bills Everyone leapt into bed with everyone! Thrift shop Glamour Nature Beauty East Hampton Flip-Flops new sensatio

Beatniks heat the kitchen with the stove & oven Drink coffee & tea from bowls Hide if there's a knock on the door. Run if ConEd tries to talk

Sunrise Sagg Beach Happenings Beatnik Country Life Warm Beautiful House Granny Hazel Hildreth & Trap Talmage next door local friends

Shucking PG's Oyster Catch Kitchen View of Poxabog Pond

New Loft Big Party Dick Bellamy Fireworks off Catwalk Mugging of the Muse LIBEL LAWSUIT Freedom of Speech WON Appeal 1982

1970-2002 85 Walker Studio & 2002- PG Found. 1976 Painting Music Classical Jazz Punk Dogs Frisbee Fun Bagels Salmon Monday Night Drawing

Kayaking Sag Harbor bay with Yuki 3

645 Broadway 1965

Coal Oil Point, 1988

Isla Vista

UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA

Normandy 2002

Feeding the fowl on the way to the big studio