We have an amazingly unique "gang" of Ambassadors as each one brings a unique spin in their artsy renderings on the RELICS & ARTIFACTS®. You have probably seen John Creighton Peterson around the art world rocking it with the paper arts. We have a feeling he will rock the paper arts and beyond with a major twist using RELICS & ARTIFACTS®.
I'm excited today to share an interview with John Creighton Petersen.
For as long as he can remember, John has always been fascinated with making art. Whether drawing, sketching, or creating his own journals and art books while in school or moving into other fields such as calligraphy and photography, he has always taken a new skill and added it to his repertoire for new creations. Although his background is primarily based in the paper arts, he began to venture into jewelry making as a way to embellish his mixed media projects. He naturally dove into the medium of beadwork which opened so many new possibilities! Through this medium of beadwork, he began to incorporate more mixed media and upcycled objects into his work, along with learning new techniques while working with metal, resin, and vintage pieces. At the 2015 CHA Show, John stumbled upon RELICS & ARTIFACTS® and it was immediate chemistry ("love at first sight"). John had the pleasure of meeting Sandra at the show and there an instant "artistic" connection with Sandra and her work. Since meeting Sandra, John has expanded both his personal artwork using RELICS & ARTIFACTS® and has the pleasure of introducing students across the country to new art forms that highlight the RELICS & ARTIFACTS® products.
What fills your time when you are not creating?
I have to admit that I'm a Pinterest junkie and love to find new recipes to try and re-create, paired with a good glass of wine, of course. When I want to unwind and relax, you can usually find me beading something, that's my 'mindless' activity to pass the time.
What are your favorite materials to use when creating?
I'm a very tactile person and like to incorporate this into my art. Anything and everything that can create an interesting texture onto pieces always fascinates me. I'm always wanting to explore new mediums for creating from texture pastes to any kind of found objects.
Where do you find inspiration for your art and how do you stay inspired?
Inspiration is all around us and many times it's something that most people overlook! The beautiful colors found in nature, a retail display in a local store, the decor inside of a favorite cafe. There is inspiration all around us everyday but it's just a matter of taking the time to pause and take it all in. I also find great inspiration from fellow artists, whether it is for a new technique or a different color combination I had never thought of.
What is your signature style?
The majority of my work combines the past with the present, mixing vintage elements with something new, which is why I love RELICS & ARTIFACTS® so much. It is taking something from the past and pairing it with something modern. For example, mixing French Renaissance with the clean lines of modernism. I call myself a 'mixed media fusion artist' because I'm constantly combining so many different styles and found objects for creating my work.
What is something your friends probably do not know about you?
I almost majored in chemistry in college! For some reason, chemistry always fascinated me and came very naturally but I declared my major in 'Architorture' (as I refer to those days now). I ended up taking what I call a 'sabbatical' from college and traveled Europe to discover my calling in life. When I returned home, I took a photography class on a fluke because a friend had given me an old camera and I had no idea how to use it...and I was hooked! Those were the days before everything was digital. Photography combined my love of chemistry in the darkroom with taking photos of architecture. The majority of my work was taken in transparency (slide) format. I worked almost exclusively in image transfers onto glass and other objects.
If you could meet with anyone, living or deceased, who do you feel you could spend hours in a chat over a cup of tea/coffee?
Alannah Currie, former member of the Thompson Twins (yes, the 80's band) who is now a mixed media and sculptural artist. She has always been outspoken in everything that she has done, from the crazy big hair in the 80's to leading the activity group, Sisters of Perpetual Resistance. She has always spoken exactly what is on her mind and I know that it would be an absolutely fascinating and entertaining conversation!
What is your favorite quote?
I couldn't choose just one LOL. So, here are the ones that have carried me through the years:
"What is essential to the heart is invisible to the eyes." ~ The Little Prince
"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." ~ Auntie Mame (and aka the clean version of the quote)
"Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive." ~ Josephine Hart
"To breathe the air of Paris preserves the soul." ~ Les Miserables
What is your best tip for those new to RELICS & ARTIFACTS® product?
Explore and get creative! The RELICS & ARTIFACTS® line is so versatile and can be incorporated into almost any project from jewelry to mixed media pieces - or by itself! You can use almost ANY medium on these pieces which makes them so great to work with, from stamp inks to watercolor pencils, even sprays. Let your imagination run wild with these pieces! There are no rules nor limits to what you can make!
Amour Book Shrine | Created by John Creighton Petersen
Be sure to check out more of John and his creativity around social media.
Blog-Shop-Tutorials-Classes-Resume
Facebook-Pinterest-Instagram as @artnewwave