FROM PORCH TO PALETTE

For Pappy Khouri, the moment he picked up a paintbrush was more than just a creative impulse—it was the beginning of a journey that would span over a decade of growth, exploration, and discovery. It all started on the porch of The Village Gallery in Oriental, NC, when an offhand comment about wishing to paint was met with the simple yet powerful gesture of placing a brush in his hand. That pivotal moment, thanks to artist Gosia Tojza, launched Khouri into a lifelong love affair with painting. Today, he’s an accomplished impressionist artist, deeply inspired by light, color, and the beauty of coastal landscapes. In this post, we dive into Pappy Khouri’s artistic path, his evolving style, and how collaboration and experimentation continue to fuel his creative journey.

By Sara Beck

Pappy Khouri remembers the moment he began his journey as a painter— “I was sitting on the porch of The Village Gallery, Oriental, NC watching one of the gallery artists paint a scene from the harbor in front of us. I commented that I wish I could paint. Her answer was to put a brush in my hand and a canvas in front of me. Gosia Tojza started me on my path to becoming an artist. We painted together several times. I kept those early paintings, and I can honestly say, ‘I’ve come a long way in twelve years,’” he reflects. Khouri considers himself an impressionist, and he feels most inspired by Russian impressionist painters, taking special notice of color and light when he works. He’s also been influenced by the work of Birger Sandzen, Claude Monet, and “all of the Dutch or Italian masters.” Over time, he’s seen his style become looser (a consistent goal) with heavier paint applications. He doesn’t box himself into one movement or medium, however, and occasionally enjoys the exercise of abstract painting, where he can experiment with form and color, and making pottery, which allows him to work with three-dimensional forms. 

Collaboration has been pivotal in Khouri’s artistic evolution. He cherishes the feedback from his mentors, considering it a crucial part of his growth. 'I listen to everything they say, even if I don’t grasp it immediately,' he shares. 'But then, there's that ‘a-ha’ moment, and it all falls into place.' For years, his art studio was nestled within an art gallery, where he thrived on the input from visitors who observed him paint. At times, he even invited them to contribute to the canvas he was working on, fostering a sense of shared creativity. 

Now, he’s “just finished a series of paintings depicting the Oriental, NC harbor and the fleet of shrimp boats that are docked there. I’m in the process of moving to Wilmington, so I’ll likely look for local landmarks to paint. I love boats, harbors, and landscapes. Something will emerge.” Clearly, Khouri finds joy in his creative process and has faith that a painting will reveal itself, even when he isn’t exactly sure of how. “Sometimes it’s hard to come up with an idea to paint. That’s when I go through my reference photos. Days at a time, I’ll just lay them out and stare at them until one jumps out, and voila, it becomes a painting,” he remarks.

Pappy Khouri is currently showing with Fine Art Local, in downtown Wilmington.