Sunday Salon: Sitting Down With Peg Bead

The other day I opened my email and received a message from a fellow artist named Peg Bead. 

Peg wrote, "Hello Sue!  I am writing you from the opposite coast...in Nova Scotia, Canada.  I am also an older artist on the verge of retirement and, for the first time, opening my home studio to the public.  I was reading your article on developing your artistic voice, saw you were in Oregon, and though perhaps we could have some interesting discussions.  I also lived in Oregon myself long ago..."

One thing led to another, and Peg agreed to a Sunday Salon interview.  I know you will enjoy her as much as I have.

Peg, I am looking forward to some interesting discussions with you.  First, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Trinity @ Peg Bead

I am a self-taught artist with both Celtic and Native roots.  I began painting as a child, influenced by my amateur artist mother.  In my teens, British Columbia artist Zelko Kujundzik helped me attain a fine appreciation of the depth, richness of color and light in the paintings of the old masters.  Most recently, Nova Scotia Artist and Naturalist Laurie Lacey first encouraged me to continue my art as a more professional interest.

I have been told that my work reflects an appreciation for the Natural World that demands something of the viewer.  To me, that is a very high compliment which I strive to uphold and build upon.  After all, a painting is something like a prayer...

You mentioned that, although you have been painting since childhood, you developed your mature style through experience.  For artists starting out, what advice would you give them as they develop their style?

The Offering @ Peg Bead

It's been a long journey recognizing myself as an artist.  One night I had an inspiration to do a painting, and I was telling my friend Laurie about it.  He said, "do it", then silently watched me through a very lengthy process.  The next day he brought a frame and put that painting in it.  It was at that moment I felt free from years of encumbrances and fears and saw myself as a legitimate artist.

My advice is do it, do it, do it!  You are already an artist or you would not be inspired to Create.  It took me quite a long time to realize that.

Be fearless and don't procrastinate!

Experiment - try a lot of mediums, but whatever you decide to use, just do it.

Paint for yourself - do what you love, what inspires you, what you know and is meaningful to you.  People will feel your sincerity.

I am interested in learning more about your experiences with opening your studio to the public.  Since I have never done that, what advice can you give me?  What were the surprises?  The pitfalls?

Oh dear!  Well, I am ready this year, but it has been a 5 year journey!  My biggest pitfall was myself yet again, thinking I had to make major improvements to my whole outside and inside space before I opened, and that involved a lot of landscaping, renovations, money and worry! Following my own advice, I finally said just do it!  If it was a shack and the art was great, it would make no difference.  The big surprise was that folks love my place just the way it is!

Although I have in the past and may again someday, I have opted out of placing work in galleries or joining larger artists' associations, as my interest in art is not entirely commercial  I decided to start being known locally first.  As I am in a tourist area, I joined the local tourist Bureau where I can place my brochures, be listed in their guide book, and appear on their web site.  I arranged a newspaper interview previous to a two-week display in a space the town library provides without charge.  I will do another interview during that time announcing my opening, and may also get a radio interview during the display time.

I don't expect anything huge opening to the public, just a few pleasant visits with some folks who appreciate art, and who may be interested enough in my art to keep in touch through a mailing list.  As I'm not officially open until June, check with me later!

I love the design in   The Singer. Can you tell us about this piece?

The Singer @ Peg Bead

Thank you!  Every now and then I like picking up a pencil and doodling.  I have nothing specific in mind, I just start with an interesting line and keep making more by outlining and filling in.  Eventually a shape will suggest itself to be enhanced a bit - and that's what happened here.

Your figures have a very spiritual quality to them that I find intriguing.  What is your inspiration when you begin a painting?

Sky Walker @ Peg Bead

That is a complicated question to answer...Art to me has a magical element.  I paint what moves me, what evokes a feeling of Reverence, whether seascapes, landscapes, fantasy or portraiture.  These pieces are part of an on-going series I titled Celtic Roots, Native Roots, a theme that depicts a personal vision of the necessary Reverence for Creation shared by peoples long in the past, Tribal peoples who were dependent on Nature for their survival.
These pieces I can only describe as 'painting themselves', like so much of my work does.  Starting with nothing in mind, I did layers of washes until I envisioned what was there, bringing it forward using a wet on wet technique.  I am endlessly fascinated and excited watching them develop.

Can you tell us more about Fisherman's Sunrise?

Fisherman's Sunrise @ Peg Bead

Several years of being on the sea did nothing to diminish the awe of watching the Sunrise every morning or the fascination of light playing on the water.  Every day was different. I painted this piece from a photograph I took of one of those magic mornings.  There had been a storm the night before.  It's not usually good fishing after a storm like that, but the wind had died down and it was beginning to clear by 4 a.m.  When we reached the fishing grounds, the sun broke through the heavy, black clouds and spewed gold all around the clearing sky and across the water, a brilliant path right up to the rail of our boat.

An added bonus -- after I hung the painting, several friends were amazed to see that the gold on the water follows the viewer moving side to side.  Awesome!

Peg Bead lives and paints in Nova Scotia, and  does not yet have a web site in place.  If you would like to contact her directly, please email me and I will pass along your information.  We all look forward to seeing more of Peg's work.

Comments

[Bonnie Luria]

For Sue, congratulations again for being the conduit of another original artists' view and talents. And to you Peg- what wonderful and moving work. It's all so different too. When you paint for your own pleasure, the selling of it is no longer the motivation. That's a healthy place to find oneself.
I really enjoyed this interview.

[Peg]

Thank you all so much for your encouraging comments! The interview was a very useful exercise for me, and continues to be a great experience! I am enjoying each artist's work and views a lot! Thank you so much Sue for these interviews.
Peg

[Marcia Nelson Pedde]

I met Peg on my honeymoon back in 2002 and was intrigued with her as a beautiful soul as well as a powerful artist. How wonderful that the Sunday Salon chose to interview Peg! She’s an inspiration to all interested in expressing their creative talents through art. I love the intuitive aspect of ‘The Singer’! And the realism in ‘Fisherman’s Sunrise’ is breathtaking. Thanks Peg! Continued blessings to you…

Marcia

[Cora Thayer]

Thank you Sue for posting this story, it's so wonderful to see Mom's art and words appreciated! I love you Mommy! You are the most amazing and talented woman I'll ever know! Beyond proud :)

[Mike Nelson Pedde]

Thanks for posting this story. I've known Peggi for twenty years, so I may be a little biased, but I think she does great work! In fact, we have an 'early' Peg Bead original from those days, so I can say I knew her 'when'...

Congrats, Peggi, and thanks again to Sue (who is also an excellent artist)

Me.

[Paulette]

Great interview, she has some great pieces. I love the Offering, it reminds me of a modern cave painting.

[Laurie Lacey]

Hi,

Excellent article! This is great! I remember well that night when, as Peggi says, I "silently watched . . . through a very lengthy process". :)

It's great to see this story online, and the paintings look beautiful.

I have always especially loved Peggi's "Sky Walker" painting, which was painted a number of years ago. I love the Cosmic nature of it, and I like to relate the painting to Cosmic Consciousness, which I think we all have deep within ourselves.

Peggi, your paintings are subtle, sensitive, and beautiful.

Thank you, Sue, for doing this story.

All the best,
Laurie

[Laurel Neustadter]

Thank you for posting this interview. It is inspiring. I love the pieces of Peg's art you posted. I hope Peg gets a web site so we can see more.