WORKING IN A FACTORY - TRAVAILLER DANS UNE USINE

 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 because of those early years in my folk’s factory.

Peter and his brother Stephen working on the polishing machines at Rideau ~2018.


Peter’s studio ~2021.


Version française


TRAVAILLER DANS UNE USINE

Je n’aurais jamais peint comme je le fais si je n’avais pas travaillé dans la bijouterie de mes parents. À la fin de l’école secondaire, j’ai rejoint la bijouterie familiale, comme l’ont fait Cam Ferguson et tous mes frères et sœurs.

 

Mes parents ont insisté pour que nous travaillions dans l’usine et que nous apprenions chaque tâche de A à Z. Ils nous ont encouragés à innover et à ne pas avoir peur de nous salir les mains. Cela incluait de balayer l’usine et de travailler sur chaque machine. Nous travaillions pour des gens qui se souciaient de ce qu’ils faisaient et de ce qu’ils fabriquaient. Ils nous ont appris des leçons que nous avons mises en pratique tout au long de notre vie et nous ont donné une base solide pour comprendre comment les choses étaient fabriquées.

 

Cela nous a également appris que chaque outil et chaque machine avaient leur place dans l’usine. J’ai transposé cela dans mon atelier. Bien que je sois un peintre très désordonné, à la fin de la journée, je range toujours tout. Les visiteurs remarquent souvent à quel point mon atelier est bien rangé. Tout cela est dû à ces premières années dans l’usine de mes parents.

Peter et son frère Stephen travaillant sur les machines à polir à Rideau ~ 2018.

Studio de Peter  ~2021.

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