James Philip Pegg: "My father
once said to me, being an artist is not just a job, but a lifestyle or a
destiny."
BPP: For his personal reasons, James Philip Pegg wasn't able to answer to our questions. But he kindly gave us the permission to present his work and his opinions for the shake of our readers.
"Autumn forest" - image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: I have spent most of my life living in the West Indies and in Belize, Central America. (I'm Stateside at the time). Being the son of an artist, my exposure to art began at an early age. I had my own drawing table next to my dad's. I think I was four years old then. On at my 10th birthday, I was given my first camera, and I found photography. After many years as a teacher, photographer, printmaker and illustrator, I've retired and have returned to the fine arts. I have set up my studio and I'm doing what I like. I've found if I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing comes together.
"A life's journey begins and ends with a single breath bound by the limitations of each man's intellect, while expanded by the scope of their imagination and compassion. During this journey, accomplishments are judged as either fleeting moments or lasting imprints. Nonetheless, no one escapes the angst of his or her future – no one has been promised his or her tomorrow. Fortunately, I learned early in life that happiness is found in the complexity of life's journey, that champions conquer through perseverance and passion, pose the unanswerable questions and understand others through empathy.
With a little flexibility in our thought process, we have the power to make the journey one of little regret and much reward. Thus, there is no reason why one's life should not leave an imprint." My favourite people in the arts are: Victor Hugo, C.S. Lewis, (writers); John Waterhouse, Carl Larsson (painters); Erik James Pegg (illustrator); Isadora Duncan (dancer); Rod McKuen (poet); Fritz Henle, Andriete Le Secq, Tutku Tokol and Julia Margaret Cameron (photographers). Two of my favorite ballets are "The Red Shoes" and "The Tales Of Hoffmann." Music, I Love it! ... Ayşegül Yeşilnil, Lila Downs, Gloria Estefan, Carmine D'Amico, Bebel Gilberto, Fernando Ortega, Eliane Elias, Norah Jones, Stan Getz and the list goes on. Kindness is just about the nicest thing there is. It is the principle of friendship and the essence of love. All my best, Phil
Room 21" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: Some of you
may wonder what this old man really looks like...
So I’ve
been young and I’ve been old and have determined old is better.
Age is
proof you got from there to here.
Alas, so
many that you loved
did not
complete the journey. You mourn them, yes,
and always
will, but age is such a triumph over youth,
again, because
you moved across the years to here.
Leaving
there where it belongs
for youth
to come along and re-discover.
Self portrait - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: Dreams are
tickets through the longer night.
God rewards
the dreamer with continued dreams. Be your dreams.
"Sorrow" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: Did you
know that I sailed the Great Lakes in my youth one summer while I was in High
School. After that summer my father died and I left home (15 years) went to
California, studied art, went into the Navy at 17 and ended up in the
Caribbean. After the Navy, I sailed for Hess Oil on one of there super tankers.
"The old cottage in the country" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: Went back to school, studied art, in England, Italy, and Arizona and became a teacher. taught school on Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and in Belize, Central America. now retired, and full time artist, photographer, & Illustrator.
studio study - image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: Dream lofty
dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of
what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall unveil.
"She was a living doll" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: I am
watching the birds out my studio window. Birds don’t sing because they have the
answers, they sing because they know the songs.
Illustration for "the black kiss" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
"She was a real doll" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
Self Portrait - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg:
Catching my reflection while passing past
a looking glass not long ago
I discovered I was older, even old. There was
no sudden melancholy or regret, and yet
some sadness in the wonder that it happened
while I wasn’t watching,
No pause to proudly ply the autumn into winter
process.
"Lady Rekay" - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
Self portrait - image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: I was
totally absorbed. I was in another world, or another dimension; all sense of
time evaporated. Yes, back on my drawing board.
James teaching in a Mayan village - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg; I taught
for several years in a Mayan village in Southern Belize, Central America.
For 12 years, I was living, visiting, teaching in a rainforest of Southren Belize.
James' s cottage house and art studio - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: Over the
past year it seems that dozens of artists have written something like:
"I
don't have a lot of time so what's your all-time best tip?"
My answers
varied depending on how I was feeling and what I was up to, but here,
I think,
are a few of the best:
Be your own best coach, and follow her advice.
Keep busy while waiting for something to
happen.
Let yourself fall in love with your processes.
Process wild dreams quickly and efficiently.
Teach yourself to think several things at once.
Treasure your idiosyncrasies and foibles.
Finish that one--then get on with the next.
Know that to begin is often better than to
think.
Trust your quick muse and your snap decisions.
Never leave your easel empty.
James's cottage house and art studio - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: People often ask, "Where do you get your ideas?"
Well, on a rainy day, right here in my studio. All this stuff around the room is mine. Beach sand & sea shells in a old Cruzan rum bottle, old faded poetry books, yes always music.
Somewhere in this room is a old picture album of memories.
Just beyond, perhaps, is a small Michigan town of my childhood
I am surrounded by new & old dreams dancing about my room.
I will never starve for new ideas, here in my studio.
I just look around, find what I need, and began.
Self portrait - Image courtesy: James Philip Pegg
James Philip Pegg: In my life, I have done everything that I have ever dream of, and them some. So in this season this is the frosting on the cake, and it is sooo good.
Happy sailing, Phil
If you want to learn more about James Philip Pegg, visit:
philpegg.multiply.com
http://links.fotki.com/philpegg/
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