Peter's blog

   English Version - *version française dessous* MY FIRST RULE OF PAINTING… THERE ARE NO RULES ! I was not a very good student.   I barely got out of high school.  It was only later in life that I realized, I loved to learn, I just hated to be taught.  Mark Twain, one of my favourite authors, had a great quote which resonated with me…. “don’t let schooling interfere with your education”.  This quote hangs on a plaque on my studio inspiration wall.   I’m often asked whether I give lessons on painting. My answers always the same… “no, I will paint with you, but I will not teach you”.  The reason is quite simple, I’ve never taken art lessons or been formally schooled.  I am self taught and as a consequence, would not be comfortable definitively saying this is the way to do something.   I remember a group of young girls visiting the Gallery one day. One of them was crying and I asked her if she was okay. She said she was an art student and had recently failed a project because s

   English Version - *version française dessous* THE ONLY CONSTANT IN MY LIFE IS CHANGE I have no problem showing anyone my studio.  If I’m asked how I do something, I’ll always explain my methods.  This includes other artists.    Sometimes I’m asked if I’m worried other artists will copy me to which I inevitably answer “no”.  The reason is simple… the only “constant” in my life, my business career and in my artistic endeavours has been “change”.     If someone wants to copy what I do so be it… because what I do tomorrow will be different than what I’m doing today.  I love learning and innovation.  I would get very bored doing the same thing over and over.  So I’m always trying new things and new techniques.   For the last thirty years there has been a plaque on my desk with a quotation by George Bernard Shaw…                                                                                                                                                 “Progress is imp

  English Version - *version française dessous* WORKING IN A FACTORY I would never paint the way I do if I had not worked in my parents’ jewellery factory.  When I got out of high school, I went into my family’s jewellery business as did Cam Ferguson and eventually all my siblings.   My parents insisted that we work in the factory and learn every job from the ground up. They encouraged us to innovate and not be afraid to get our hands dirty. This included sweeping the factory floor and working on every machine.  We worked for people who cared about what they did and what they made.  They taught us lessons that we carried through our lives and gave us a solid base in understanding how things were made.   It also taught us that every tool and machine had its proper place in the factory.  I have carried this over into my studio.  Although I’m a very messy painter, at the end of the day I always put everything way.  Visitors often remark how tidy my studio looks.  It’s all becaus

  English Version - *version française dessous* EVERYDAY I WAKE UP TO MONET!   Monet’s paintings have always moved me. He, along with Degas, Jackson Pollock, Jean-Paul Riopelle and of course, Vincent Van Gogh really influenced my art.     I used to copy Monet when I started painting 35 years ago in 1989 and visited many museums with Francine just to see his art.  Our very first trip was to see the Monet series paintings at the Boston Museum of Fine Art in 1990.  His paintings took my breath away and I could have stayed there for hours.   Many years ago, I was given a Monet placemat setting for my birthday.  It consisted of six placemats and coasters featuring famous Monet paintings.  By that time, I had seen most of the paintings in person.  We never really used the set and for years, it sat in a drawer.  About six months ago I was looking for something and stumbled upon them.  The paintings brought back happy memories of my early painting days and I decided to use some of