Popular Chadds Ford artist Paul Scarborough died in the early hours of Monday, Feb. 3. He was 69.
He is survived by his long-time friend and companion Barbara Moore, director of the Chadds Ford Gallery, her children and grandchildren to whom he will always be “Grampa Skip.”
Born in Claymont, he became well known for landscapes with his signature element, a cardinal. At each of his exhibitions, knowing fans would always play “find the cardinal.” In a 2009 interview with Chadds Ford Live, he said the cardinal was his own self-representation, a way of putting himself in his paintings.
A former draftsman and member of the pipefitters union, his interest in art began in the third grade and developed over the years. Part of his professional development paralleled the use of the cardinal, he said at the time of that 2009 interview.
“When I paint something, I paint it with the thought of living it. I paint something that I feel is a part of my traveling in the local area. My style has developed to a point where, I think, it’s become a much more personal look at the way I see things in the local landscape. This has been distilling down for a number of years,” he said. “I want to make a person get absorbed into the painting and not just look at it and miss the thought I was trying to put into it.”
Mr. Scarborough underwent cancer surgery at Fox Chase in the fall of 2013, yet attended the opening of his own exhibition the next night via the video/computer technology of Skype.
Some of his work will be on display at the gallery in the exhibit “energy” beginning Feb. 7.
Visitation is planned for 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Gebhart Funeral Home in Claymont. In lieu of flowers, people are asked to make a donation to the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates, PO Box 202, Chadds Ford PA 10317.
His obituary can be found here.
Reader Comments from Facebook
Kathryne Arroyo OMG. One of the nicest people you would ever meet. Kind and generous. I am stunned
Alex Razze Another Chadds Ford icon, I will always love your art Paul. RIP
Colin Courtney Loved his last show.
Scott Hamilton I have many fond memories of fishing trips with Mr. Paul (as we called him) when I was a kid. What a terrible loss.
Hamilton Chris Love you Mr. Paul. Rest in peace.
Peggy Hecksher Such a gentle man. We treasure our paintings of yours. You will be greatly missed!
Molly Dixon Loved his paintings and playing "find the cardinal"
Nanette Meyers Houser So very sorry to hear - what a great man and artist!
Nancy Griffin-Gober OMG. I have a painting he gave me. Loved when he came in to the chadds Ford Wawa was one of the nicest person and a great artist.
Margaret Deibert Tifer So young, he will be sadly missed. My Condolences to his Family & Friends..
Rita Lamb Thompson Very sad. Such a great talent lost.
John A. Koninis Sr. My condolences to Barbara and family. Paul and I have been friends for many years,I will miss our coffee every Friday John & Stacy
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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