Interview
Peter Van Giesen
Peter has always known that creativity and inspiration are part of his life force. He discovered his artistic and business talents early in elementary school as he sold some of his first works of art at recess for snack money, yes he did get in trouble for it! After finishing high school in Ontario, he completed a college degree in Religion and a university degree in Psychology. He was encouraged by his family to work in the church. He tried it for a few years but naturally gravitated away from the church into the business and charitable sectors. For most of his working life, he has been a business owner or senior executive in business and non-profit sectors. At every phase of his life, he took time to exercise his creativity. When he had a studio space, his creative expression flourished and when he had no such space his creativity was channeled into his other endeavors.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born and raised in Toronto area of Ontario, Canada to Dutch immigrant parents. Immediately after high school I migrated to the West Coast where I now reside. My creativity was validated early in elementary school where at the age of eight or nine, I sold cartoons and drawings to other kids to lunch money or traded for stuff like a bike, a watch, etc. One time I traded a drawing to a customer on my newspaper route, for a puppy that I then traded for a baby muskrat, that freaked out my parents who generously allowed me to keep it for a few weeks before making release it back into a local marsh. After finishing high school in Ontario, I completed a College degree in Religion and a University degree in Psychology. I was encouraged by my family to work in the church. I tried it for a few years but naturally gravitated away from the church into the business and charitable sectors. For most of my working life I have been a business owner or senior executive in business and non-profit sectors. At every phase of my life I took time to exercise my creativity. When I had a studio space, my creative expression flourished and when I had no such space my creativity was channeled into my other endeavors.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My art is the result of sporadic surges of energy that percolate past my consciousness. My style hovers between representation, impressionism with a dash of abstract. I attempt to reach into the fabric of the world exploring the dynamics of tension and elasticity. Using paint, I create images based on the interplay between darkness and light, the interconnected aura of the natural world. My artistry attempts to make sense of all that exists in our world. It communicates the connectedness of all our senses giving us occasion for expression of all emotion. Art interprets the world for us to grasp the necessary and the important. Using nature as a message as an artist I hope to drive society to be a better version of itself.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I classify myself as an “Intuitive Artist." I do not have to try and paint as it is natural gift. I am inspired from within, so what you see is a creation from my inner world. I am influenced by the natural world, so many artworks represent Vancouver Island and the surrounding oceanic areas. I have an endless stream of creativity that resides in my heart so all paintings, while representational of place, are interpretations of my sensations and passions. Doing art, for me, is a mystical process, a spiritual work, and an exercise of creativity. When I paint it is if the veil of the common life is momentarily lifted allowing me to be embraced by the underlying essence of the universe. I consider my artistic expression a gift to be shared.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“I follow the news of ever evolving trends that impact the world of art and yet retreat into the peace and calm of my spiritual home from whence I create. I live therefore I create.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I currently use acrylic paint as it is the most suited to my style and speed. All paintings start as a collective memory or place or cache of sensations. Eventually the wide and deep bundle of thoughts do coalesce into a definable sequence of paintings that present themselves in an orderly fashion. As an artist, it is who I am and it a matter of lifestyle. I guess one could note that my life is one big evolving project. My creativity is something continuously present so even when not physically creating, I am processing my artistry internally. Creativity oozes from my very sense of being alive.”
“I follow the news of ever evolving trends that impact the world of art and yet retreat into the peace and calm of my spiritual home from whence I create. I live therefore I create.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Exercising creativity is a representation of me being alive. I breathe therefore I create! Creativity is a spiritual work for me so I communicate the dynamic tension and elastic energy that binds all things together.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“My favorite artwork is always the next one that will eventually present itself to me and others in paint. I am eternally sifting through memories and sensations. It excites me to continually exercise creativity.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I found the constant round of seeking exhibitions quite exhausting so I prefer to offer the public an ongoing gallery of my work so have a large studio gallery in a local shopping mall where I create art in public as well as sell my work year-round. I focus on creating an experience as not everyone can buy art, but they can come in from the hectic outside world. I can provide a calm ambience with makes the visitor feel happy. Certainly, enough art is sold to provide me a comfortable living.”
