The Summer 2024 Gallery Show for Peter Ferber will be held a little earlier this coming summer on August 3, 2024. The show will be held on Saturday and doors open at 9:30.
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Ferber’s Upcoming Winter Show
On Saturday, February 17th, The Art Place in downtown Wolfeboro will hold its semi–annual Peter Ferber Gallery Show featuring new original paintings by local well-known artist Peter Ferber. The unveiling and artist’s reception will commence at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend and meet the artist.
Peter Ferber has been showing at The Art Place gallery in downtown Wolfeboro since the early 1990’s. Owner of The Art Place, Barbara Gibbs, talks about Peter and the upcoming show: “Peter creates works of art that inspire, and are inspired by the beauty that surrounds us here in the Lakes Region. Through his paintings, he takes the viewer to wondrous places and engages his audience with feelings of familiarity and nostalgia. He creates a sense of warmth and safe harbors through his images. He draws us, his viewer, into the image, moves and guides us through his mastery, and sooths us with memories and pleasant surroundings. As if placing us in a time capsule, he gives us a chance to escape and reflect.
She continues, “most people know Peter for his attention to detail; however, he has grown as an artist to now be able to step outside his comfort zone to create more impressionistic works of art. This upcoming show will feature both extremes, sometimes within the same painting.”
Peter talks about his artwork for the upcoming February show. “If I were to briefly describe the subjects of my paintings in this new show, it would probably sound like the same old thing that I’ve been doing for years. Yet for me this has been a very fresh, exciting and satisfying group of new work. My family members have commented on the usual variety. This comes thru in the color schemes and different viewpoints and compositions I’ve used in interpreting these familiar subjects. While many of them are the result of exploring some new places, a lot have also come from revisiting spots and things I’ve painted before. In going thru accumulated files of photographs, I’ve found “the [view] not taken”, to paraphrase Robert Frost’s famous poem –an approach or angle on the subject that I passed up on the first time around. It is so true that our perspective changes with time, and in revisiting these places I found strong painting ideas that hadn’t struck me before. There were also things I really liked but couldn’t figure out how to portray effectively, but now the way to do it came clear.
Arguing against variety would be the fact that half of the paintings have boathouses in them. But fortunately, to most people around here, that’s a good thing! I thought I was running low on attractive vintage boathouses as subjects for my cut-paper pieces, but then one came to mind that was located on the point right across the cove from our summer place. I’ve painted it a number of times, but realized that, while not as elaborate as some, it had good lines, shingled walls, nicely placed windows, and a couple of little covered porches on either side, all of which were wonderful elements for the cut-paper medium. This prompted childhood memories of an ancient cabin cruiser that lived in there and would emerge a couple of times a summer. So I had fun recreating that image in another painting, working completely from these memories, aided by several photos of the actual boat that came into my hands recently from the family. Other paintings look in thru windows and out thru doors of boathouses–and all filled with interesting details inside and out to discover. Several other pieces feature some old “camps” I’ve come across that evoke warm feelings of that wonderful summer lake life that so many of us can connect with.
Fall and winter also play small parts, as do moonlight and morning, crisp deep-colored renderings and softer, more impressionistic takes that make the work so interesting for me, and hopefully for the viewer. At least no one can use the cliché: when they’ve seen one of my paintings, they’ve seen them all!”
Since 1994 Peter Ferber has painted the official posters for the New England Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society’s annual show, which also comes as highly collectable artist proofs. Peter has exhibited in over 50 shows in New England and the Midwest. More than 100 reproductions of his work have been made, including over 70 limited edition prints.
If there is a major weather event, the show will be postponed until Sunday, February 18th beginning at 11 a.m. Peter Ferber’s Gallery Show at The Art Place will be on display through March 3rd or as long as paintings are available. The Art Place is the exclusive gallery for Peter Ferber’s original artwork, and produces most of his limited edition prints. The Art Place is located at 9 North Main Street, downtown Wolfeboro, NH and is open year round. Our Winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 to 5. For more information, please call 603 5696159.
The Art of Tim Campbell
Tim Campbell identifies with the term of “outsider art”, which was coined by an art critic in 1972 as an English synonym for “art brut”–French, meaning raw art or rough art. The critic, Roger Cardinal, used this term to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture. The term “outsider art” is often applied more broadly to include self-taught or naive art makers. Campbell’s work reflects his sharp sense of humor, and interest in primitive fork art as well as contemporary political and religious imagery. His work covers a vast range of subjects, including North American birds, his “Animals as People” series, and folk-style map paintings. He also loves to create caricature-like portraits, accentuating odd features and stretching proportions to fit the look he wants. Tim says about his work, “I like anything that’s not right. I don’t like perfect things.”
Goldfinch
His collection of maps includes one of Lake Winnipesaukee with our own “Nessy” popping up out of the water. Tim’s collection of birds includes a robin, cardinal, chickadee, goldfinch, as well as New Hampshire’s own purple Finch. Of course, he has added a loon or two to the collection. This series demonstrate a more specific and detailed approach to his art. He paints his native New Hampshire fish series in a more Americana style. Having a birthday on October 31st,Tim has made a lot of images relating to the Halloween holiday. He has an entire series of popular Halloween scenes and images that he has made into cards. These and other holiday cards go over very well. Tim states, “My work is both thought provoking and humorous. It has taken Folk Art to a new level.” Tim also creates sculptural pieces. “They are created entirely from recycled wood and metal. Using vintage pieces for my painted furniture gives them a primitive appearance. Each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind.”
Lake Winnipesaukee
Tim was born in Keene New Hampshire, and decided to be an artist in second grade when he beat even high schoolers in an art competition. Later on, Campbell actually failed an art class in high school, but didn’t let it kill his passion. Tim’s art career has flourished since then, and his work can be found in galleries around the United States and internationally. In 2010, Campbell was honored with the highest award as a traditional artisan in “The Early American Life” magazine’s Directory of Traditional American Crafts.
Campbell works in his studio in Keene, New Hampshire, with his dog Otis, a Jack Russell terrier who keeps him company while he works, and serves as a muse for this whimsical self-taught artist.
NH Pen and Ink Artist Gene Matras
I have admired Gene Matras’ pen and ink artwork ever since I saw him demonstrating at Artists in the Park in Wolfeboro in the mid 1980’s. The piece he was working on at that time was of a farm perched on top of a hill. In black and white he captured all the beauty of nature as if he were producing a painting instead of a pen and ink drawing, as if there were a brush in his hand instead of a pen. His skill showed through in each flowing stroke and the scene became alive. I thought, what an unbelievably patient person he must be to produce such intricate detailed work. Fascinated, I then understood why a crowd of people always seems to surround him at his shows.
Gene Matras
Four Horses print by Gene Matras
Gene Matras is an artist who has been blessed with a talent which he has enjoyed for years. The Matras family came to America from Europe in 1960. Born in a log cabin on a farm in Poland during the darkest days of the “Iron Curtain,” Gene was nine years old when he arrived in Manchester, NH with his family. With initial encouragement from his mother, Gene has been drawing since early childhood in the Old Country, and has pursued his craft ever since.
Living in a rural environment in Poland he drew scenes which were familiar to him. Horses, cows, trees, and barns were always his favorite subjects. When he became a New Hampshire resident he continued with similar themes but with a New England flavor. He has tried other media, but chose pen and ink, which he has developed into a fascinating technique. Drawing and not painting was always his passion even in the Old Country. He loves the stark contrast of black and white and its clarity. Inspired by natural scenes, wildlife, farms, and a variety of other rural subjects, he concludes that he does not have enough time to put it all on paper.
Living in Pittsfield, NH with his wife where they raised five children, he is surrounded by endless subject material. Gene has not always created art as his career. As a young man, he worked at various jobs until he could get established with his art. Gene went to a vocational college in Manchester, NH for a year to learn the welding trade, but when the instructor saw his artwork, he told him to get out of the school and do art seriously. Gene did just that, and as time went on, Gene became more well-known. His art is now collected by many people.
Gene’s prints are produced from his original drawings by an offset lithography process. He sells his art at shows throughout New England and has acquired much recognition in the area. His prints are also collected abroad. Gene has a very busy schedule, showing his artwork at various shows, festivals, fairs and events, as well as art galleries.
Castle Paintings
If you are a New Hampshire local, you most certainly have heard of the little gem–Castle in the Clouds–in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. This extravagant home was built in 1914 perched in the Ossipee Mountain Range. It’s famous for its lush views overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and its lavish interior. Beloved artist Peter Ferber created a series of paintings depicting the Castle. The Art Place recently refreshed its stock of these iconic prints, which are very popular with locals, or for couples who are married at the Castle! Wedding season is a popular time to purchase these prints, but they are stunning all year round. You can view all of these prints here.
Castle Above the Clouds
Peter Ferber documented his work on this series of paintings through small essays that go with each piece. One aspect of the Castle that he worked to convey was the rugged environment that surrounds the safe and civilized building. This can be seen in my favorite piece of the series–Castle Above the Clouds. In this painting, the large Castle seems minuscule compared to the view of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Peter also used unique perspectives to create these pieces. In Eye of the Castle, he stood on a 14-foot ladder to get just the right angle and view of reflections in the upper window. And The Corner Pocket captures so much of the architecture and feeling of the Castle and the surrounding landscape with just a tiny view of the corner of a room.
The Corner Pocket
The Castle series also highlights several painting styles that Peter is fluent in. Tea Time at the Castle is a wonderful example of Peter’s detailed watercolor work. The tiny lacework and precise reflections in the silver tea set are flawlessly executed. Peter got to experiment with painting new kinds of intricate details in this series of paintings–the shiny car in Winged Visitor, a newspaper in In the Wind, and another lace tablecloth in Sun Settings!
The Gatekeeper’s cottage and Pergola Perch are reminiscent of an old English country scene. The brown oil wash softens the background of these images and allows the landscape to delicately emerge from the background, leaving plenty of space for the imagination to “fill in the gaps”. Another oil piece–Castle Hues–takes this a step further. Although this painting is created with acrylics, Peter’s depth of hues is similar to his oil works; the clear blue of the distant mountains is a striking contrast to the earthy autumn trees in the foreground.
The Castle in the Clouds series is a gorgeous collection of works, highlighting local artist Peter Ferber’s artistic talents. Each painting expresses this New England landmark in a slightly different voice, and together they truly bring the Castle in the Clouds to life. Although their summer season is over, the Castle is still open to visitors, and many enjoy this time of year for the special Christmas at the Castle events. After seeing the Castle, Peter’s art prints may feel even more alive to you, as the memory of a visit adds further color and feeling to these vivid pieces.
Pergola Perch
Tea Time at the Castle
What is a Certified Picture Framer?
When you bring a piece of artwork into a shop to be framed, it is more important than you may think to be sure your work is being taken care of by a certified picture framer (or CPF). The Professional Picture Framer’s Association (PPFA) has created a rigorous exam to help framers prove their professionalism, techniques and overall standard for excellence that qualifies them as a CPF.
“The process of studying was where the most benefit came.” – Harry Gaston, CPF
Emily was awarded the Warshawer Certified Picture Framers’ scholarship.
In order to take the CPF exam, a framer must have hands-on experience with conservation techniques as well as study a long list of framing literature. I am currently working on attaining my own CPF designation, and was recently honored with the Warshawer Certified Picture Framers’ scholarship! This award is given by the New England chapter of PPFA, and aids in taking the CPF exam. I have begun studying for the test and can already see the results of this hard work in my relationship with customers and the artwork that they bring in to The Art Place.
But why is trusting your artwork with a CPF so important? CPFs understand how to best keep your artwork with high monetary or (more importantly) high sentimental value safe from tears, wrinkles, acid burn, mold and mildew, staining, fading, and so much more. They know how to frame artwork in a reversible way; with conservation framing, the piece can be completely removed from the frame and matting without any change or harm to the work. A CPF framer can be trusted to keep your work safe, and explain to you the pros and cons of different framing techniques, and how they can protect your work.
A CPF framer also studies how to create a visually pleasing piece; they can create a striking design that complements the artwork and reflects a customer’s unique vision. At The Art Place, we work hard to make framing choices that enhance the work being framed, instead of distracting the eye and creating “visual clutter”. A CPF framer is also fluent in a wide variety of mats, frames, and other decorative elements that can add polish and finesse to the framing design. For example, The Art Place has over 4,000 moulding samples to choose from, as well as an array of mats from various shades of white to vibrant colors and even fabrics and textures.
Barbara Gibbs, owner of The Art Place, and Betty Kanca, mat cutting specialist, both have CPF designations. This sets our shop apart from others in a very unique way. All our employees are trained under a CPF standard and can be trusted to protect your artwork and frame it safely and with style!
 Walter and Kathy put together an oversized frame for a custom framing job. |
 Barbara measures a fabric piece by artist Valerie Schurer Christle to be framed. |
The Art Place staff (excluding Walter) with local artist Peter Ferber from left to right: Emily Marsh, Corina Willette, Barbara Gibbs, artist Peter Ferber, Katherine Tremblay, and Betty Kanca.