PAUL MEIJERING

 For almost 33 years now, Paul Meijering has been active with the paint brushes. As a 17- year old inspired youngster he joined the Academy of Arts in Enschede (Holland) in order to receive a native training in drawing- and painting technique.

At that time (1980) the tendency of the abstract was running riot, and to his dismay and disappointment Paul found that the trade of the ancient masters was merely 'old hat', the realistic art being disregarded and looked down upon. After two years of useless botchery, there was only one conclusion to draw: "get autodidact, be a self-taught person!" Paul then left the academy to work for a living, but at the back of his mind there always loomed the passion of his life: to paint. At his spare time he painted and his efforts are characteristic as far as man plays an important role are concerned, or to put it in his own words: 'Each human being tinkers at his own existence, it is the source of inspiration to explain the non-verbal by way of painting'. 

The paintings attracted attention at various exhibitions and he was frequently approached by trades-people, hotel-keepers, merchants. These customers were for the most part interested in large wall-paintings and decorations. In the year 2000 the painter develops a speciality that's quite unique: he applies himself to paint football pictures. After a year he gets the chance to realize an open exhibition for an indefinite time as well with the Dutch Football Union 'KNVB' in Zeist as in the stadium of AFC Ajax 'the Amsterdam ArenA'; at both places as many as 15 of his pieces are being shown. To promote his reputation, Paul travels Europe to visit impressive clubs like Juventus, AS Roma, Inter Milan in Italy, Real Madrid in Spain, Manchester United and Arsenal in England and Bayern M� in Germany. At each of these places he is met with favourable reception and on every occasion he's in the fortunate position to meet and talk to many famous football-players, such as: Totti, Batistuta, Vieri, Del Pierro, Thuram, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Zidane, Figo and many others. To boost and set his public image, the rural press like De Volkskrant, Algemeen Dagblad and Panorama- magazine take interest in his work and publish about him and his ambition. He's also asked to appear on television in programmes like 'Ontbijt tv', 'Man bijt hond', 'Netwerk' and 'Kopspijkers'. The meeting he had with Roberto Carlos in Madrid has been shown on the channel of Eurosport. 

...In August 2003 Paul is instructed by the Dutch Football Union 'KNVB' to make a painting of the best national coach of the century Rinus Michels. In November of the same year, he meets Ruud van Nistelrooy in Manchester. April 2004, Meijering departs with his screaming green van straight up to Barcelona, where mr. Henk ten Cate, assistant coach of the FC Barcelona, gives him by a lucky chance a visit on a northern hill. A few days later another little miracle happens: a meeting with mr. Footbal, Johan Cruijff..

In front of his house, in the middle of nowhere, Meijering could have a conversation with his hero for 15 minutes. On the fourth of February 2005 is the release of a cooperative venture between the football club FC Emmen and the ClinicClowns (an organisation that is engaged in advancing the welfare of sick children in hospitals) Two paintings were sold by auction. 

Since three years his collection of works has been greatly enlarged with all kinds of sports, like motorcycle racing, golf, different combat sports, formula 1, cycling etc. To mention three most recent feats of arms: the Dutch painter has met the king of all races Valentino Rossi in Assen (Holland). On the 22th of May 2005 FC Barcelona � the quite fresh champion of Spain - receive a present of the Dutch Fan Club: Meijering's painting of the star player Ronaldinho. Joan Laporta gives it a destination: the museum of the club. In springtime of 2006 the long-expected Pantani-museum will be thrown open in Cesen�co (Italy) and one of his 'Magico Marco'-paintings will be shown there... In the year 2005 Paul starts a new project of his own preference: he perpetuates artists of the pop music on canvas. Two years later he began to paint moviestars...