Today we’d like to introduce you to Al Scholl.
Twenty-one years ago, Al Scholl took a hike up Palomar Mountain. He came down a few hours later a changed man.
That day, the former hotel banquet captain fell backward and hit his head on a rock. Ever since then, the 53-year-old said he’s had an overwhelming compulsion to make art.
Scholl believes his head injury triggered a form of synesthesia, a rare neurological condition where a cognitive pathway is formed between two stimuli. In Scholl’s case, it’s music that unlocked his inner artist. When he listens to reggae, he can see vivid colors, shapes, and landscapes that he reproduces on canvas.
The self-trained artist is known locally as the granddaddy of San Diego’s “live painting” movement. Over the past 17 years, he has produced more than 700 paintings on the fly at live reggae concerts and festivals statewide. He has created over 2500 paintings and creates almost every day.
Al also teaches special needs students of all ages as well as large group classes to those of all abilities. He’s an accomplished muralist, fine artist, father of three and is married to his very supportive wife Lisa M. Scholl. You can catch Al painting live and teaching 8-10 times a month at many local breweries, restaurants and music venues as well as some of the largest festivals in the U.S. He’s had the honor to paint with hundreds of bands to include Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, The Skatalites and countless bands mainly in the Roots music genre. He was a featured live artist at California Roots Festival, Reggae on the River, Fire on the Water, One Love and many more. However, he contributes his success to the many local bands; High Tide, The Devastators, and Sunny Rude that allowed him to do live art with them when no one was embracing the marriage of art and music.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My main form of art is expressing myself by doing live art during live music. I’ve been deep into the Reggae Roots scene going on 20 years, and it is by far my most preferred music to paint to. I paint on a myriad of canvases to include wood, skateboards, palm fronds, and stretched canvas and also work with oils but most of my live work is acrylic.
The music is my driving force, and I get lost in the baseline. I’ve been obsessed with creating art and trying to spread my love of art to others as a form of therapy. Art literally saved my life, but that’s an entirely different story.
I aim to inspire everyone to find their inner artist, and I do it by example and encouragement. Every event I attend whether it’s a farmer’s market, street fair, music festival, you name it; you will see me creating a painting on the spot. I believe the world has lost touch of the importance of self-expression and I want to connect the audience to the art by not only showing them how it’s done but connecting with them on a personal level. Making the connection between a piece of art and the person who created it is important.
I just want to create smiles and wonder and inspire others to create. My message is one of paying homage to the beauty that surrounds us by creating my own world combining music, my imagination and visualization as well as the gifts nature has embedded in my memory.
I didn’t start painting until I was almost 30 years old and have zero training. I now do what I love every day and leave a legacy on canvas as well as helping others create. I want to be an example to everyone to follow their dreams, work hard, block out the negative, and it’s never too late.
How can artists connect with other artists?
I like to meet other artists in person and support them as well as toss some ideas around, but you can gain a lot of inspiration from searching others out on social media. Most artists will answer any questions, and I’m very open to help and encourage anyone trying to become an artist or live painter.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can catch me at a variety of live music events, festivals, fairs, and farmer’s markets. My website is AlSchollArt.com, and I can be found on many social media platforms. You can support my work by purchasing paintings and prints, clothing, murals, and or coming to paint at one of my classes.
Contact Info:
- Address: Al Scholl: Live Performance Artist, Muralist, Art Therapist, Fine Art, Art Teacher
- Website: AlSchollArt.com
- Email: alschollart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @alschollart
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/scholldesigns
- Other: https://m.facebook.com/AlSchollArt/
Image Credit:
Al Scholl
With David Hinds of Steel Pulse – Brian Johnson Photography
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