Ready, Set, Break! • Rockport Harbor Mural

With the visiting author series beginning at Pascal Hall I have been asked to take a break and regroup next month. A blessing in many ways with summer in Maine in full swing and so many things to do and people to talk to!

The designer and the client getting the hall ready for its first visiting author Lauren Groff

I spent the past two weeks finalizing samples for the trompe l'oeil paneling below the mural and the faux frame that will set the mural off. Originally we though that the off-white trim color used throughout the hall would be the paneling color way, as we did in the adjoining room, but as the project has taken shape and I have more and more LOVED the idea of framing the mural in the beautiful blue Farrow and Ball color including the paneling below the mural.

The trompe l'oeil painted panel in front of one of the incredible chairs Interior Designer Leslie Curtis has brought to the project!

The Farrow and Ball blue hue helps weight the mural wall in my eye.

The faux painted panel creates a beautiful illusion that in my eye makes the whole wall part of the mural. A trompe l'oeil gilded frame will come next and give the mural a feel of one of those grand history paintings in The National Gallery of Art- This was something the client and I had spoken of since the start and her swift approval of the samples was a positive way to continue on with this massive project.

A relatively simple yet effective trompe l'oeil frame with some combing to add visual texture.

Sample approval day.

I could not be happier with how the panels work to weight and set-off the mural and for the moment I will step away, take care of future work-business, and come back with fresh eyes to finish the piece this Fall.

Slowly cleaning my way out with the scaffold down and a clear view of the mural in progress for the coming events.

Kenduskeag Stream Trail Mural

WOW! A year of planning and collaborating with someone new is always risky, but this one ended on a great note- Inspiring, fulfilling and energizing.

Sometimes you just KNOW a good time was had!

Annette Sohns Dodd is was of the co-owners of The Rock and Art Shop, she is a shaker and mover in making Bangor, Maine a better place, AND an extraordinary Artist herself. We met when an acquaintance turned her onto my Artwork in 2019 and she offered me a show at her Sohns Gallery which I ended up installing last year after a long “covid” delay. We both LOVE mural painting and quickly decided after my exhibition to plan a future mural together with the Kenduskeag Stream Trail entrance in mind; A plan was hatched and talks with the City of Bangor began for proper permissions as well as taking on writing a grant through The Maine Arts Commission and their Covid related ArtJobs Grant.

This Franklin Street location, at the foot of the Post Office exit ramp was an eyesore too say the least and an interesting location layout that inspired what was to come. The before and after images say it all.

I am ALWAYS amazed at what color can do!

With a very loose sketch and many many ideas we began . . . .. …

I used the winter to create Seven shaped panels inspired by the wildlife of the stream itself and Annette began planning the backdrop fro the panels. As I varnished the panels in early May the Maine weather warmed enough to begin priming the concrete wall and making final color choices. By mid June we were ready to install the panels with the incredible assistance of Michael and his sign installers.

Annette and loosely planned the backdrop and layout leaving room for things to change as needed.

Kingfisher, Bass, Trout, and Salmon all ready to varnish.

Dragonfly, Golden Eyed Duck, and the Painted Turtle.

We had so much fun and have received so much greta feedback from this project that another is in the works with an additional mural surprise next summer! Yay!

History Inspired Mural - Rockport, Maine Part II

I find creating murals deceiving as they appear to blast off and all too often clients and viewers think it will be done in a matter of days, but it takes time to block colors in and start to adjust the final values, colors, and details. In general these final decisions are made after the whole mural has received a wash of color.

The end of week two looked promising, but a long way to go.

Originally I thought I would start with the upper third of the mural and work my way down, but the mural had other plans. Quickly I began focusing on the left hand Ice House Fire of 1907 in Rockport Harbor knowing I wanted it to recede as a night+winter scene.

Week 3 had me looking to create the depth from the foreground into the harbor scene. This part of the composition was inspired by the paintings of Pieter Brugel and how he portrayed everyday life within the landscape. I loved the way the trees in the foreground created a sense of distance.

Using the mock-up painting as a guide and not a bible meant letting things develop and colors and some design to change. I knew the scaling up to such a large size would require letting the work speak to me in regards to how the mural was viewed and experienced within the space.

Don't wait for Inspiration!

Continuing to spend the month looking back at the past 6 years since arriving in Maine and noticed that this quote has always been on a scrap of paper in the studio, in my flat file, on my iPad. These pictures of tables and small paintings, from a brief yet obsessive experimental period with marbleizing wood for Art and Design purposes sparked this thought and reminded me of the many many objects and ideas that have been left behind, burned, primed over, and put aside on my creative journey. Everyone has their own voices that speak to them, but this one spoke to me and I have not stopped since. What it means to me is that I am always curious, always creating + looking + destroying + creating again- You have to make many mistakes and create many many things that are “almosts” and not let their “failure” (usually only in one’s own head) weigh you down as you continue to enter your studio each and every day and decide what you will make and explore this day. #peterwallsart #maineart #maineartist #makemistakesandlearn

Table: Marbleized wood top on iron base.

Painting on marbleized slab of wood.

Table: Marbleized wood top on iron base.

Painting on marbleized slab of wood.

Looking Back to 2017/2018 paintings •

Sharing four more of the early “Something The Birds Told Me”pieces from 2018 I believe. Collage and metal leaf were an important part of the series at the start although I do that a bit less now and they have definitely become more painterly these days. Good to look back 3-4 years and see how the world the birds inhabit have changed little by little with landscape becoming more prevalent in the current work.

Something The Birds Told Me • Four 12” x 12” pieces from 2018.

Friday already and just a few more of the older pieces as yesterday somebody asked for a kingfisher. Just one thought on this grizzly winter morning as I think back to painting many of these in 2017 and 2018 and not having much interest, gallery or sales wise, until 2020 with the series -Sitting on a studio full of “unwanted” work is NOT easy for an Artist, at least this one, yet taught me to be patient, to keep making, and all things will have their moment eventually. #peterwallsart #maineart #maineartist #birdart #interiordesignmaine #stocktonspringsmaine