After what seemed like endless searches, a site named www.graphicguitars.com shows up in a search, and there it is..."Player"...the painting that conveys the message of Acoustic Outreach without saying a word. It was chosen for the home page because that is the first page people see when they come to the Acoustic Outreach site. It is a very powerful yet gentle image at the same time.

The artist, Paul Chase, graciously allowed us to display his paintings throughout our site. They are the perfect addition and we are extremely happy to be able to use them.

Paul began his art career in grade school by making t-shirts designs for other students with permanent markers. He received a B.S. Degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1970. His watercolor "Phantasmagoria" was featured in the Milwaukee Art Museum as part of the Midwest Art Show. Bonnie entered his life during this time with encouragement to follow the "vision." They were married and the journey led them to Montana where the family was established in Missoula.

After graduate studies in art, photography and education at the University of Montana in Missoula, Paul began teaching art in the Missoula County High Schools. While in Montana, Paul had several "one man" shows in painting and printmaking. In the late 70's the family of 4 moved to Wenatchee Washington where Paul continued to teach art while developing his "design" techniques. He was introduced to the Graphic Communications industry and began doing freelance illustrations for a local publisher. He then took advertising design courses and eventually received a Masters Degree in Education/Communication from UW-Platteville.

Paul began teaching Graphic Communications/Commercial Art/Photography in a Vocational/Technical Center in Illinois...also freelancing--- illustrating, painting watercolors and experimenting with computer graphics. He illustrated several books for Hill House Publishers, in addition to published album covers and t-shirt graphics while exhibiting and selling watercolor paintings in the area.

With his art talent well established he was given a few old guitars and began to play "a joyful noise unto the Lord." While guitar playing was on the "back burner" for some years, in the 90's it became a higher priority with renewed enthusiasm and the beginning of a stringed instrument collection. Recently Paul has been working on finger style playing...more pick'n and grin'n...and attending Taylor guitar workshops given by Pat Kirkley, Chris Proctor, Doyle Dykes and others. He studies videos like "Acoustic Guitar techniques" by Phil Keaggy, "The Walk" by Steven Curtis Chapman, and some concerts videos by various guitarists like the Everly Brothers. Paul continues to play guitar in various church band settings and he and his wife Bonnie enjoy "jamm'n" and "praise'n the Lord" together at home.

His studio is at home where there is an ample collection of stringed instruments to be played and painted, and painted "into" graphicguitars.

Acoustic Outreach asked Paul if he had a personal favorite out of his collection, and this was his reply:

I can't get enough of "goodvibrations" the small color pencil sketch of a red Les Paul and the hands jamming on it...

It is so pure and simple and has the "feel" of the guitar and player...

It's like looking at a Cézanne, impressionistic, quick, descriptive, vibrant...kind of how I got the name! Nothing to do with "Fun, Fun, Fun!" by the Beach Boys!