Peter Andrew Samuel Wood

Apples on Tapestry, 2007, oil on canvas

Artist Statement

“I am not a "book of the month" artist and I do not paint pretty pictures”. Marsden Hartley (1877-1943)

Peter Wood has been an Artist and Painter for more than 10 years. Peter works with traditional materials: oil paint, turpentine, linseed oil and dumar varnish on cotton canvass. Peter Wood find influence from artists Marsden Hartley, Fairfield Porter, and Philip Guston. Peter Wood studied with Gerald Ferguson at NSCAD and now lives and works in Quebec. His academic credentials include a BAH in Philosophy (Queen's University) and a BAH in Fine Arts in studio Painting as well as a BAH in Communication design (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design). Peter Wood has worked as a designer with Gotschalk+Ash, Montreal. He has owned and operated The Waterline Gallery based in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. His subject matter ranges from highly figurative indigenous flowers & fruit, local landscapes and characteristic architecture. The paintings are from formal still lifes with bright colours, signature strong black lines, text based images and the appreciation of letter as image. Wood has worked as a high school teacher, historical interpreter and artist with the Bread & Puppet Theatre. Peter Wood professes great adoration for Bag pipe music and bread from wood fired ovens. For more information contact Peter Wood at (819) 647-6432 or e-mail at peteraswood@yahoo.ca.

Biography

I have always made art and been interested in issues of communication, creativity and aesthetics. It was this that drew me to complete my Bachelor of Honours in Philosophy from Queen's University in Kingston. After I graduated I came to the realization that more school, this time in fine arts was for me. I applied and was accepted to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. I completed a degree in Fine arts with a major in studio Painting. I also completed another degree at the same time in Communication Design with a minor in Art History.

For my graduate show at NSCAD I prepared a table with a blank schedule for interviews. For the duration of the show I met with colleagues to discuss making art and being an artist. The piece was more about living with art/design and talking about it rather than solidifying art into one solid material object. As well, I wanted to point to the importance of people in the gallery and how integral they are to my work. "Good design (after all) begins with a good conversation." (Fast Company, 2002.) For me, people must be present for art to be effective. Art with the presence of an observer makes the work complete.

I finished my degrees at NSCAD and continued to make art about relationships. I painted portraits and still life’s. Flowers and friends were the focus of my work. I practiced my trade as a painter: the hard skills of canvas, colour and brush. To earn money, I used my communication training and designed annual catalogues, logos, business cards and advertisements. I moved to Quebec and taught high school students web site design and digital media.

In the summer of 2003 I apprenticed with the Bread and Puppet Theatre Festival in Vermont. The company was prolific in their art making and very inspirational to be around. My formal training with Gerald Ferguson and appreciation of his art along with the artists Marsden Hartley and Fairfield porter was re-awakened. My graphic design training was equally excited. Using logos and icons, mixed with folk art styles led to powerful, easily read images. While working at Bread and Puppet my artistic style changed dramatically. My new art was playful, illustrative and full of narrative. I came away energized and productive. From bread and Puppet I also gained a new appreciation for the piano accordion and fell in love with klezmer music.

I left Nova Scotia in 2007 after a series of life changing events: My father died, I closed my art gallery and broke up my girlfriend of two years. I arrived in rural, Quebec, the land of my ancestors and started work with a Non-profit Youth initiative called the Maison Des Jeunes. Ghost have appeared frequently.

I continue making art for two reasons: one, to explore combining images, words and icons in digital media and Second to give my life purpose, to teach and work with young people using art as a catalyst for discovery and communication. In looking back I see that I have always been teaching, coaching or mentoring. I like working with people making art.