If Paul Marche's paintings seem to explode with primary colors, it's because the vivid tones help him see the paintings better.

"I'm color blind, so the only colors I see well are primary ones. In my work as a graphic designer, I read color by the [palette] numbers," said Marche, who uses the alias Fredrick Brainstorm in signing much of his work.

Marche, a graphic designer for the Oregon Employment Department, got his start working in newspapers and learned, through trial and error, what shades of different colors worked for everyday objects.

"We typically couldn't rely on the monitors we were using for accuracy anyway," he said.

Following in the footsteps of Salvador Dali, lowbrow art pioneer Robert Williams and Maxfield Parrish, Marche's art tends toward large-canvas, pop surrealism with a hint of the psychedelic.

"There's no end to their creativity. While they were exploring all those new worlds, something about it was always believable," Marche said.

He describes his art as playful and fun, but it's also character-driven. With names like Bently the Static Dragon, Penelope the Elephant, Sunny Sweet Tooth and Lady May, Marche's works portray a snapshot in the life of characters.

"It may just be a static picture, but each one is part of a larger story," he said. "For me painting is a calming adventure. I sit down with a glass of whiskey and my brushes and I'm off."

The names, Marche said, typically arise during his painting process.

By that measure, one of his recent paintings stands apart from the rest. "Star of Great Proportions" features a Buddha sitting in a world tree with the title of the piece repeatedly printed in Arabic, Chinese, English and Russian in the background.

"That one came to me because it has always been a big issue of mine that most religions believe that they are the righteous ones because of what god they believe in. A lot of violence and war has been fought believing that God was on their side," he said.

Marche's love of the congregational diversity at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Salem prompted the creation of the piece.

"We all respect and love our differences and most of all, we know how to celebrate our commonalities," he said. "What star could be greater than the star of peace and love?"

The act of creation goes beyond himself. Marche likes tapping into the imagination of others to fuel his artistic pursuits as well as his musical ones. Marche is also leader of the local nu-jazz band All in Perspective.

"At our live shows we always put out percussion instruments so the audience can get involved," he said.

Whether it's painting, music or his church, the unifying thread is bridging gaps and finding happiness.

"I just want it all to bring joy to the people who see my paintings and hear AiPs music," he said.

Marche's next showing is slated Dec. 4 as part of Emerge at the Coffee House Cafe in downtown Salem.