“Color possesses me. I don’t have to pursue it. It will possess me always, I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour: Color and I are one. I am a painter”
(Paul Klee)
This is the sentence that came up into my mind the first time I saw the works of Charley Peters.
Curiosity has taken over as usual. I went to her studio in London to meet her and get to know more about her work and her emotions.
These are the same emotions she shows through her uncontrollable vitality, which is clear when you see her in person. At the same time she tries to hide her feelings or maybe it is just denial.
If feels like she might be ashamed of what she feels and might try to define them in order to explain them. But in her work there’s no emotional chaos, but more of an harmonious emotional connection.
I was pleasantly surprised by her wish to experiment which I can see in her works. In a short amount of time she has gone from paper work in black and white to a different dynamic and experimentation of various materials and shapes. Steadiness doesn’t belong to her.
I introduce you to: Charley Peters
How long have you been doing this job?
I have been painting for five years, I used to draw at the beginning. My work was back and white only, colours have arrived later on.
During a trip to Rome I visited the Pantheon and saw the light that reflected in it and I just got it; colours, spaces, shadows. All this was a source of inspiration for me.
A radical change. In which one do you see yourself?
The picture surface is very important for me. It’s more important than the image itself. That’s why I use different materials; wood and aluminium.
The spray technique also changes where I use it and according to the effects it creates I start working with different emotions.
Do you pick colours first or are they random?
All my works start from colours, I never plan them.
There is a lot of variety in your works, colours and geometry that meet and clash…
It is a battle in my head. I am very emotional but I try to control it and I become more analytical. Obviously I am emotional and impulsive but I am happy with it and I try to control it.
The exhibition that excited you the most?
My next one where I could showcase all my work and use more dimensions, which I love. It is called: The future and is part of a very big festival set in London for two weeks.
Projects for the future?
In two weeks there is a collective titled; “Sea of data”. Three painters using an abstract technique to send digital information but I am not good with computers.
In November there’ll be another show called “The nature of painting”.
How do you live moment. I see many emotional vibrations in your works. Is that a reflection of your current state of mind?
Movement is new for me. I went through steadiness to killing geometry to create movement. It’s something I plan and I know that it is done. I feel it’s a bad thing to do but that is how I feel and I feel better after I do it, emotionally.
I know that all the paintings have a destruction point. It starts from an instinct then I shift to geometry and then I get impulsive and I destroy it. This is my battle, this is me.
Is it liberating?
Absolutely.
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When I wrote this article I thought about a song from Coldplay: Every teardrop is a waterfall
I dedicate it to all of you and the artist
Have great emotions everyone!