Peter's blog

   English Version - *version française dessous*     WE’RE MOVING… AND YOU CAN SAVE 40%! One Time Gallery Moving Sale: April 7th – May 19th, 2025   As we prepare to move from the Old Port of Montreal to our new location in Pointe-Claire, we’re inviting you to take part in a special one-time Gallery Moving Sale — a thank-you to all who have supported us over the past 12 years.   From April 1st to May 19th, you can enjoy 40% OFF all original paintings (shipping and taxes are additional).   For example, using a $1,000 painting we will give you 40% off or $400 and you will only pay $600 plus shipping and taxes.   You will also receive a Certificate of Authenticity.   Now is the perfect time to acquire a piece you’ve had your eye on — or to find something new before we transition to our new home.   To purchase or learn more, visit us at the gallery or contact us:   Email:   contact@PETERwHART.com Phone: ...

English Version - *version française dessous*   MY FAVOURITE MUSEUM IN THE WORLD   Francine and I have visited many museums during our travels but, without a doubt, our favourite is Musée D’Orsay in Paris.   Situated on the Left Bank of the Seine, it was originally a train station.  In 1970 the plan was to demolish the structure and build a hotel but the then Cultural Minister killed the plan, and the building ended up on the list of Historic Monuments.  In the late 70’s it was decided to convert it into a museum that would bridge the gap between the Louvre and more modern Georges Pompidou Centre which housed contemporary and modern art.     The first time I visited the museum was in 1996, ten years after it opened. I was with my dad and eldest son Jonathan.  We were together on a “boys” trip and had a brief layover in Paris.  I will never forget walking into the main hall of the Museum, it was so beautiful and different...

    English Version - *version française dessous*   OOPS…. IT’S ALWAYS BETTER TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST!!! In January 2025, I was named Artists In Montreal’s (AIM) “Artist of the Month”.  Part of the process was to submit some paintings that reflected my work and to answer some questions.  Cathy Keays, the President of AIM provided me with a list of 15 questions which I dutifully answered.   After responding, I read Cathy’s instructions to make sure that my submission was complete… not the smartest thing to do AFTER I answered ALL the questions when Cathy only wanted me to respond to 4 or 5 with a one page 300-500 word limit!!!  Francine (aka the Boss) always say I talk too much and now she’s saying I write too much!  LOL!     In any event, all of Cathy’s questions were great and it was fun to answer them so I’m going to share them with you. 1.What is your art journey in a capsule? I started my first painting 36 years ...

English Version - *version française dessous*   HANGING OUT WITH MONET  Monet inspired me to paint.  In the early 1990s, I travelled to Boston to see an exhibit of Monet’s “series paintings”.  These were motifs Monet painted multiple times during different times of the day, under differing weather conditions and times of the year.  These motifs included haystacks, poplar trees, the Cathedral at Rouen and of course, the bridges and ponds of his garden in Giverny.  Since that trip I have done my best to “hang out with Monet”!  Here are a few of my very hang outs: Giverny… Monet’s Home & Garden Giverny is about 50 miles from Paris and can be easily accessed by car or train.  I have visited there several times, once during the off season.  You can visit Monet’s home and his gardens which include the famous Japanese Bridge.  Be sure to visit the souvenir shop… not to buy souvenir but to stand in what was his last studio.  Monet is bu...

  English Version - *version française dessous* THE MUSICAL ESSENTIAL There is one thing that is absolutely essential when I paint… music.  Music lifts me up and inspires me to paint.   When I moved to my new studio in 2020, I had to be careful about my music’s volume.  If it was too loud it interfered with the gallery’s own sound system.   So, we reached a happy compromise…  I turned down the volume on the system in my studio which plays all the time and bought a high end set of headphones connected to my iPhone whereby I can play my music as loud as I want. Music makes me happy, and I love ALL types of music.  Over the years I have created many different playlists, and they often determine what I paint.  Sometimes, you can see the music in my paintings, and I ask visitors if they can see what I was hearing.   Lately, I have been naming some of my art after the songs or albums which influenced the finished painting, and ...

English Version - *version française dessous* NO REMORSE… NO REGRETS My Dad lived a long and full life.   He passed away a very happy man in 2021 aged 102 years, 2 months and 2 days.     One of Dad’s favourite expressions was no remorse… no regrets.   I’d like to be able to say the same thing, but it would not be true.   There are certain things I regret and wish I could have do-overs, but life doesn’t work that way.   Therefore, I have always tried to look forward, not backward.     I do have two regrets about my gallery that I’ll share...   The first concerns my mom. When I first started painting, I spent a lot of happy times with her watching Bob Ross paint on the PBS channel.   Mom really encouraged me to paint. My regret is she never got to see the gallery and the works she helped inspire… especially my sunflowers.   I’m pretty sure wherever she is, she had a hand in the gallery’s success.     My oth...

English Version - *version française dessous* HAPPY JACKSON POLLOCKS There are five painters who had a major influence on my art journey.  The first were Degas, Monet and Van Gogh.  I loved Degas’ dancers, Monet’s landscapes and Van Gogh’s use of colour.  Then I discovered Quebec’s own Jean-Paul Riopelle.  The last major influence was Jackson Pollock.   The first time I saw one of his paintings in the early 90’s I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.  But as time went on, I began to appreciate the beauty of his art… especially his drip paintings.  I began to read everything I could about Pollock and his life.  I watched all the films on his sad life and art.  Today, when I visit a museum and see his paintings, they take my breath away!  Pollocks works are stunning and make me feel alive!   Like Pollock, many of my larger canvases are painted on the floor and I use bottles with different sized needles to create my own type ...