The Muses of Maurus

We discovered the talented painter Eric Maurus after frequently encountering his works hanging in many of the homes we feature each month. His style is eye-catching, and each painting, though different, has a similar alluring quality that makes one stop and linger for a moment.

His subjects range from French landscapes to Victorian queens, chaotic, yet beautiful battle scenes, religious icons and delicate ballerinas at the barre. Some, which he refers to as “rehearsal,” are smaller, while others are large enough to dominate a sitting room wall. No matter the size or subject, Maurus has perfected his technique. He takes away the question of whether or not the work is well done and leaves only room for the viewer to find a connection to the subject. He has taken his obsessive “curiosity with the world,” interpreted it in his own manner and put it on the canvas for the audience to decipher.  

Maurus grew up in the south of France in Basque Country in the city of Biarritz, which is known for its beautiful beaches and strong surfing culture. His two passions growing up were painting and surfing.
“Biarritz is on the Atlantic side of France, so I grew up surfing,” Maurus said. “I was lucky enough to be sponsored by some of the local companies.”

Maurus created surfing art at the time and was invited to show some of his works at a show in Hawaii about surfing. The experience was eye opening for Maurus, and shortly after he decided to take a new direction with his art. He devoted more time to studying technique and made a decision to no longer focus on one subject.

“I chose to stop surfing and focus entirely on painting. I had wanted to be an artist since I was a kid. I went to school for architecture, but it was just to make my parents happy. My passion was art.”
Maurus came to America 10 years ago. He was living in Florida where he worked restoring antique boats — another passion of his — and looking for a new city to call home. “I had lived in California, and someone there told me about Hot Springs. I was looking for a place with lots of lakes and mild weather. I moved into a great loft in an old renovated high school, and I love it there. It is just perfect for me,” Maurus said.
He lives and works in Hot Springs and travels to Little Rock twice a week where he paints at Cobblestone and Vine, a local furniture and home dÉcor store.
“I met Susan Henry, the owner, and she invited me to come into the store to work and talk with clients. It’s great. This setup really works for me. I am able to meet my clients and explain to them the motivation for my paintings. I’ve been doing it for three years now, and it’s been an amazing ride.”

Maurus prides himself on his strong dedication to developing his skill. He makes a point to paint or draw everyday. “My vision of painting is no different than any artisan skill. You have to be a skilled artisan for your clients. There must always be progress, there is always something new you can learn.”

He creates his paintings using a very unique and difficult technique involving 250-degree wax. He paints in a style he calls “alla prima,” where there is little room for error. “I put the wax that is colored with pigment directly onto the canvas. I can dig my brush in the wax and push it around and flick it here and there, but once it is on the canvas it is hard to manipulate.”
Many of Maurus’ paintings have a haunted feel to them. The subjects are often solemn, and the color choices are muted and ghostly. “I like to paint characters with a tragic destiny, like Marie Antoinette or Napoleon. I create a dialog between the viewer and the art. I want you to ask, ‘Who is she, and why is she looking at me like that?’ I want the viewer to fantasize about the subject and create that dialog. Like it or don’t — that’s not my business, I just want the interaction.”
Maurus has a unique and captivating story behind each of his works. Visit him at Cobblestone and Vine at 5100 Kavanaugh Blvd., or 11525 Cantrell Road any Tuesday or Thursday to hear his stories, and watch the artist at work.