BY SANDY BERTRAM
The West Volusia Artists of DeLand would like to introduce Tim Peterson as our September Artist of the Month. He is holding his piece Ponce Inlet Boatyard, which will be on display at the Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center in DeLand throughout September.
As a self-taught artist, Peterson likes using fast-drying oil paint on linen. His love for boats was fostered by a summer of work on a crab-fishing boat.
Peterson grew up in northern California. He moved to DeLand in 1983 because he liked the warm Florida water for scuba diving.
As a child, he preferred drawing over his regular schoolwork. Later, a teacher got him a job working with metals making one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.
Peterson has been involved in some aspect of art for 55 years, including owning a sign-painting business.
Working with other art professionals has guided his love of art. He now offers private or small-group art lessons in painting, jewelry-making or any other form of graphic art. His style in plein-air painting is to “create a light loose painting quickly so it doesn’t become boring.”
Peterson has won Best in Show at a local art festival, and often shows his work at local events. He can be found painting local scenes out and about DeLand.
To develop your art skills, he encourages you to “paint something every day.”
Peterson joined the West Volusia Artists after reading about them in the newspaper. When he’s not painting, Peterson enjoys bicycling, fly-fishing and target-shooting.
The West Volusia Artists meet 9 a.m.-noon on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Sanborn Center, 815 S. Alabama Ave. in DeLand. Club activities consist of plein-air painting, field trips to museums, art demonstrations and monthly art challenges. Artists of all levels and mediums are welcome.
For more information, call club President Melinda Ellis Cummings at 386-846-3330.
