Paul Schexnayder has been a professional artist for more than 30 years. He graduated with a BFA in Painting and Drawing from LSU in 1988. He still follows his college professor’s advice to draw every day. After 4 years teaching art in the Boston area, he moved back to New Iberia to be a full-time artist. He has been selected as the official artist for many local and state festivals. His work has been in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States. Paul launched his own line of art products called happy cajun in 2006. Schexnayder is also an award-winning children’s book writer and has three published with UL Press. He has also won several awards for his short animation films. Since 2018, he has completed 5 murals in and around New Iberia. Paul and his wife, Lee live in New Iberia and have three kids. They have owned A & E Gallery for 11 years which features over 10 local artists. He has taught art for over 30 years and is currently a visual arts teacher in the Talent Program in Iberia parish. Schexnayder’s work flow from narrative and whimsical to poetic and lyrical. His signature colorful paintings are very recognizable and highly collectable. Southern Living magazine called them “vibrant, vivacious paintings of Bayou State Life” and the Salem News said “Schexnayder's works represent the heart and soul of Louisiana” Paul says he works best in series which are as fluid as a backyard bayou.