Career
He began painting full-time at the age of 35. He has since traveled the United States, and internationally, conducting "Art as a Spiritual Path" workshops. Both spiritual and multicultural, he is considered the premier artist representing the mandala painting.
Paul Heussenstamm is the son of the artist and writer, Karl Heussenstamm, and artist and psychologist, Doctor Frances Heussenstamm.
The household consistently engaged in spiritual discussion with notable guests such as Sufi Master Pir Inayat Khan, actor Gig Young, transcendental painter Emil Bisttram, and health guru Gypsy Boots. Heussenstamm"s brothers, Mark Heussenstamm and John Heussenstamm all lead lives as artists.
The brothers also shared a love of surfing. As a surfer, and spiritual seeker, Heussenstamm traveled extensively.
His travels included much of Africa, the Middle East, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Italy, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and many times to Hawaii.
Though originally aspiring to be a plein air painter, Heussenstamm"s spiritual and artistic journey led him from landscape paintings, to flower paintings, and on to discovering his passion for mandala paintings. His first mandala was painted at a spiritual workshop conducted by Brugh Joy with notable participants such as Barbra Streisand and Carrie Fisher. He was introduced to the healing potential of mandalas through the work and mentorship of Doctor Beverly Sheiffer.
With permission, he adopted her method of painting mandalas for spiritual revitalization.
Heussenstamm has continued to receive patronage for his mandala paintings throughout his journey.