Peter Archer

Statement

I was born and raised in Portland, OR and have lived here ever since. I have no art degree, but have been a state licensed, custom tattoo artist for almost 14 years. I was also a licensed tattoo instructor for 4 years. I love dogs, people, food, patience and making music. Bicycles, gardens and travel are also rad.

The paintings are on plywood. I use a ball point pen to make the lines. The colors are tempera or acrylic or whatever I can find. I coat them with clear floor acrylic and make the frames, too. I do not use rulers or tools or use models or references while painting. All freehand, all from the head.

The shape is a hexagon. It represents the orderly interconnectedness of people and society. Like a beehive, each individual must be healthy and satisfied in order to contribute to the wellbeing of the overall ‘family’. Ants, bees, wasps and termites belong to the most successful order of animal on the planet. Three sectioned insects that are female-centric. They also affect their/our environment by building complex orderly structures that change the physical landscape of the planet.

Each piece is meant to fit together with one another. This adds to the overall story and tells a larger and larger tale as I make more of them. It is a visual diary.

The subjects include; nature, war, enlightenment, religion, politics and pretty stuff. The images are visual games and paradoxes placed together into a story. If you look at one detail, it will, most likely, begin to lead your eye through the loop that is the visual narration.