Peter's blog

    English Version - *version française dessous* MY ACRYLIC ARMY I’ve experimented with many different types of paint.     When I first started, I only used oil-based paints.   However, I wasn’t crazy about them, primarily because when I worked in my parent’s jewelry factory, I developed a deep dislike of the smell of the chemicals we used, especially the solvents.   I tried both oil and chalk-based pastels.   I started using the chalk pastels on 600 grit automotive sandpaper. I enjoyed blending the colors together on the sandpaper’s grit.   It was a bit rough on the fingers, but I loved the results!   But I was always concerned about the permanency of the medium.   Then I fell in love with acrylics.   They were much less toxic than oils.   They dried quickly which was important because often, my time to paint was very limited.   I loved being able to create my own colors and having the freedom to drip, spra...

   English Version - *version française dessous* RAGS TO RICHES It was my parent’s story that inspired me to create my “Rags to Riches” collection of paintings.   Dad was a soldier posted in London during World War II. In 1943, he met and married my British Mother. After the war, they started with very little. Dad worked as a courier for a jewelry company and Mom worked part time as a bookkeeper… all while raising four young children. In 1958, they bought a small jewelry company. That is the “ Rags ” part.     My parents did not leave my three siblings or me a lot of money.   They gave us unconditional love… “ Riches ” which were far more valuable than anything else they could have given us. For me, “ Riches ” is not about money or the wealth someone accumulates during their lifetime... it is what you give to others. It is the legacy that you leave behind and it comes in many forms.   Think about the painter Claude Monet.   He started wi...

  English Version - *version française dessous* WHY SUNFLOWERS? My Mom really loved sunflowers!  Sadly, she passed away from cancer in 2000.  Every time I paint sunflowers, I think of her, and her memory make me happy.  I believe a bit of Mom’s soul is in each of my sunflower paintings. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing Mom is getting to places she never visited in her lifetime.  This is one of the main reasons I paint sunflowers! Did you know that even on cloudy days the face of the sunflower follows the trajectory of the sun? To me, this is a message of hope… even if I’m having a bad day, the sun is just behind the clouds and tomorrow will be a better day. PHOTO: TOURNESOLS – details by Peter W. Hart, 2013 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Version française POURQUOI DES TOURNESOLS ? Ma mère adorait vraiment les tournesols ! Malheureusement, el...

English Version - *version française dessous* PAINTING OUT MY STRESS  I started painting to relieve the stress in my life.   From a very early age I had a lot of responsibility, not only for my family but for many others as well. I was lucky to discover painting.   In my daytime job, I had to rely on and work with many different people.   It wasn’t always easy, indeed, sometimes it was incredibly stressful.   Much of my work was a never-ending "work in progress".   Painting was different.   It was something I could do all by myself.   It had a beginning and an end.   My wife Francine, who is a very talented painter in her own right, was very supportive when I said, “I’m done!”     PHOTO:   FRANCINE & BIG ENERGY – by Peter W. Hart, 2013, 8’ x 8’ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ...