Introducing Paul-Artist, musician and new Wilhelmina model Paul Jacobs connects with photographer Joel Esposito and stylist Shaeleigh Afton for quite the portrait series. Possessing a magnetizing personality, Toronto-based fashion writer Sasha Ferkul-Jenkins wrote the following about Paul: “Paul Jacobs is nothing if not visionary. The consummate creative, he views the world with a singularly unique perspective and devotes himself to interpretation through fusing forms of artistic expression. A musician who writes music and plays numerous instruments, his work is raw and spontaneous- lending the listener a brief glimpse into his mind. His drawings and paintings are similarly insightful. He is never without a medium, constantly labouring to portray his perceptions through picture. His humour and intellect are apparent in these compositions- his willingness to self-reflect obvious and amusing. This risk-taking spirit led him to skateboarding at an age when companions were engaged in more traditional forms of sport. He credits this obsession with shaping his interests and confidence- introducing him to a way of life that valued and encouraged his diverse abilities.
The model/ musician/ artist/ skateboarder/ furniture craftsman’s talents are varied; he finds original methods for each and is constantly seeking ways to merge his crafts. For instance, creating large and imposing works using his skateboard or guitar as paintbrushes, or taking photographs of himself (using an invention he devised for the purpose) while skateboarding. Perhaps it is the artist inside him constantly conceiving, that lends itself so brilliantly to being photographed. Paul treats each shot as an extension of his artistry.
His multi-layered one-man-band (harmonica, guitar and drum) could be a metaphor for the quality of his work; he lends depth to every picture.”