Charles Peer

After receiving his MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arkansas in 1979, Charles Peer opened his studio on the historic Main Street in Van Buren, Arkansas. In 1990 he and his family moved to Siloam Springs, Arkansas where he assumed a teaching position in the Department of Visual Arts at John Brown University. Peer continues to paint his native Arkansas landscaped as the framework for exploring his interest and love of color. “I have a particular interest in color combinations that create a richness of surface, an inner glow or that make a painting “sing”. I enjoy the exploration of working in this media and a variety of “grounds”. My interest is to combine the immediacy of drawing with a wonderful intensity of color. I love exploring what results can be achieved with the pastels when used they are combination with various mixing agents, such as lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol and are applied to interesting grounds. Currently I am working with soft pastels on a hand textured and painted surface. All of this is in an attempt to develop that color richness I am looking for.

I continue to find inspiration in the colors I see in landscapes. Most of the locations painted in this exhibit are local although a few of the pieces find their inspiration from my travels through Europe, particularly, Italy, Ireland and Northern England.

Peer is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America. He has served as a guest artist for many demonstrations including the Ozark Art Alliance, the Brush and Palette Competition in Neosho, MO and the Ozark Pastel Society and as juror for many regional competitions.

Charles is married to Cecilia Peer. And thanks to their children, Jordan & Waylon Buck, they are the proud grandparents of Collier Peer Buck.