I spent the first half of my life reading books on the whole spectrum of subjects:  art, science, religion, history and lately I have been adding economics to the mix ( not as strange as it might sound with the financial collapse and all the boom and bust going on these days.)   There were times- many times actually- when I would put down the book and think to myself, "Am I wasting my life here? I'm young, in the prime of life, shouldn't I be out there making something happen?"  Usually I avoided the answer and kept reading until the day I picked up a brush.  And then I had my answer.  "Oh yes, all that reading was the start of my painter's apprenticeship." Books have been ,and always will be, the chief source of ideas for my paintings.  Take for instance the painting "Death in the Casbah."  It's inspired by two separate photographs I found in the excellent book "The Secret Army" which is about the OAS in the waning days of French Algeria.  I was able to put those two photos together and make it work because I read a number of book about colonialism and the frustrations of counter insurgency.  However, books weren't the only source.  Movies inspired as well for I consider many of my paintings to be like a single frame of a reel.  Movies can show the painter how to set up a scene for maximum emotional impact.  Take for instance the painting "Tea Time for the Tea Party."  This was simply an exercise in taking an ordinary household item and making it sinister, a staple of horror flicks.   And of course, there's the great painters.  My God, where do I begin!  I am drawn to the realistic masters such as the great Russian  V. Repin.  Even though I can't come close, he still inspired me to improve my technique and make it funkier everyday. 

 

Peter