 Charles L. Peterson, also known as Chick Peterson, was born in Elgin, Illinois, on April 5, 1927. He was a nationally celebrated maritime artist and Ephraim resident whose mastery of a variety of different art media (oils, watercolors, etchings, lithographs, drawings, and ceramic sculpture) spanned for over seven decades. He was primarily known for his vivid maritime artwork (The Maritime Collection) and his mastery of watercolor paintings (The Memories Collection). Images in The Memories Collection were released as limited edition prints comprised of multi-layered, elaborate compositions of scenes of everyday life; and the people depicted in them are often referred to as "ghost" images. However, these "ghosts" were not actually painted in watercolor, but were later placed in the painting after the original watercolor was completed.
Peterson's paintings came from experiences and observances he observed since childhood, and were reflections of his life and the personalities he knew along the way. For anyone who is able to recall happy memories of days gone by, days at grandma's house, fresh apple pie, swimming in the old creek, the images of Charles L. Peterson will strike a resonant chord. If you have ever seen a place where you wished the "walls could talk", Charles Peterson's work will create that feeling in you, as you can sense a story unfolding in each of the paintings in The Memories Collection. The art, prints, and posters of Charles Peterson call us home, haunt our attention, and celebrate the strength and dignity of man at work. It's a world familiar and compelling, where every detail of the image whispers "do not forget."
Charles Peterson (whom his mother called "my little chick") was the third son of Swedish immigrants. They stressed values such as hard work, honesty, and a duty to one's community – values which Peterson would subscribe to throughout his entire life. His childhood years were filled with fond memories such taking many long visits to his grandparent's rural farm in Illinois, playing sandlot baseball games, delivering papers on his bicycle, and being very involved in the Boy Scouts while achieving Eagle Scout status and leading a contingent of scouts trained in American Indian dance to the Jamboree in Paris, France. He was an excellent student, was elected to be student council president, and participated in a wide variety of school activities such as band, drama, and wrestling. He was particularly fond of outdoor activities, spending many a summer corralling horses and canoeing at Camp Big Timber. Beyond all of this though, Chick found a great deal of satisfaction in expressing himself through his drawings. And, although he didn't begin to dream of his love of drawing as a viable career until many years later, it was with these first drawings, mostly of horses, cowboys, and Indians, that his interest in painting began.
Peterson graduated from Elgin High School in 1945, and then briefly served in the U.S. Navy which was stationed in the Pacific during World War II. Afterward, Chick studied at Chicago's Art Institute; and graduated from the American Academy of Art in 1949. He then worked briefly in layout and illustration at Leo Burnett Advertising as well as Hart Schaffner and Marx. This was mostly preliminary layout design work which left him little opportunity to use his creative skills. However, with the encouragement of lifelong friend, Ray Barnhart, Peterson pursued a liberal arts education at Marietta College in Ohio. There, he was able to complete an undergraduate bachelor of arts degree as a Phi Beta Kappa with cum laude honors in just two years. Soon thereafter, Peterson earned a Masters in Fine Arts at Ohio University in 1954. Then came the beginning of his teaching career which included a professorship at Concord University in West Virginia, during which time he continued to advance his own training by taking summer sessions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Not only did Chick's experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offer him courses of interest and the opportunity to participate in the sailing club, but it's also the place where he met his future wife, Susan. Peterson later became an art professor at Marietta College, and would eventually go on to become its department head until 1973. Marietta College named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 1985, and conferred him with an honorary Doctor of Humanities in 1988 at which time he became the inaugural inductee into their Alumni Faculty Hall of Fame. In 1997, Peterson was honored as the college's first professor inducted into the Emeritus Chamber.
In 1973, when he retired from teaching art, Chick and Sue moved their family (three daughters – Eve, Beth, and Sara) to Door County, Wisconsin. This was an aesthetically pleasing place that held great interest for him as a family vacation spot since the late 1950s. There they built a studio and gallery, and began what was often referred to by Chick as his "second career". With his studio overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan, much of Charles Peterson's art reflected his love for sailing and the sea. Maritime paintings of the great sailing ships and wonderful seascapes would eventually receive national and international attention, giving him what he considered to be a good life: a career and location of choice while providing for his family.
But if Peterson's marine paintings brought him professional prestige and recognition, it was his unique "memories" paintings that brought him national popularity. Painted with the same personal interest as well as a strong desire to preserve the American community, Charles Peterson's Memories Collection combined the elements of an old, forgotten site with the very subtle reflection of the special times that are still real for those who remember. Working with Mark Quale of the White Door Publishing Company, Chick completed over 60 paintings which were then reproduced as a series of limited edition prints under the title The Memories Collection. The popularity of that series earned him a listing by US Art Magazine as being among the top ten of the national print industry from 1990 onward; and, in 1995, earned him a place in their prestigious Hall of Fame. As a member of the art community, Peterson painted in his studio almost every day, and exhibited his work for sale at Cottage Row Framing & Gallery, producing original paintings and drawings for commissioned projects and reproductions for the limited edition art print industry.
Regardless of subject, Charles Peterson collectors came to expect a consistent quality that came only from a lifetime of study and work. Eight years of advanced art training, a successful twenty year career as a college professor of art, and an additional twenty years of painting full-time all contributed to the extraordinary watercolor compositions of a true master, Charles Peterson.
"When I was a young man it was a fantasy to think of living from one's painting," said Peterson. "It seemed like a hopeless dream. Surprisingly, it has become possible for me; and I'm very grateful for the support I've had. As I get older, I'm becoming more fanatical about my work. I'm conscious of my mortality, so I've become quite jealous of my time and energy. It's a basic human urge, I guess, to leave something worthwhile behind; and to try and improve in some small way the life we all share. The fact that I am able to indulge my passion for painting and make a living at it is truly a privilege."
A lifelong sailor, Chick was dedicated to maritime themes; and for many years, gained national standing doing illustrations for Wooden Boat, Cruising World, and Sail magazines. Russell Jinishian, recognized as an authority on maritime art of the 20th and 21st centuries, included Chick among notable maritime painters of the century by including his Sabbath at Sea painting in his book, Bound for Blue Water: Contemporary American Marine Art. The White Door Publishing Company published two books solely focused on Chick's work. His first book, Of Time and Place, was published in 1997; and won the Best of Category for 1997 Award from Printing Industries of America, Inc. for his watercolor style seen in The Memories Series. His second book, Reflections, was published in 2001.
After retiring from the limited edition print industry, Peterson was still full of enthusiasm and energy; and continued to paint almost every day, producing paintings, drawings, and miniatures. He also designed work specifically for reproduction as well as creating specific works of art that were commissioned by private or corporate interests. Those close to Chick knew he never really retired; he painted his entire life, pausing occasionally to go sailing, play a game of Scrabble with Sue, or have a glass of wine at the end of the day. Chick took great joy in interacting with his family, especially his grandchildren. He shared his passion for art and community, and had a deep love of storytelling (through his paintings), teaching art, and having conversations with his family and friends. He was also a dedicated Door County land preservationist, working often to support the efforts of that mission.
As one of the leading artists in the limited edition print industry, and as a maritime artist with a world class reputation, Peterson's artwork is still highly regarded by prestigious art galleries, public museums, and by the private collector. During his active career, his work was exhibited at the Anderson House Work Bench (Ephraim, Door County, Wisconsin), Cottage Row Framing & Gallery (Fish Creek, Door County, Wisconsin), and at the Maritime Gallery (Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut). His notable works included The Maritime Collection, The Memories Collection, School Days, and A Week in Door County.
Charles Peterson received numerous awards and honors throughout his illustrious art career; several of which have already been mentioned. He participated in nearly every International Marine Art Exhibition at the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, winning two Thomas Hoyne Awards and one Museum Purchase Award at the 27th International Marine Art Exhibition. He exhibited regularly there, and was listed by the gallery as a Modern Marine Master. In January 2007, following his retirement, The American Academy of Art mounted a retrospective of Peterson's work. Later that year, the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, also conducted a retrospective exhibition featuring Peterson's lifetime of work. Deborah Rosenthal, the Art Curator of the Miller Art Museum summed up Chick best when she stated: "We are incredibly fortunate to have Chick as a member of our community. His sense of humor is as great a gift as his masterful artwork, and his impressive work ethic combined with his humility in the face of his many accomplishments provides us with a remarkable role model."
Charles Peterson lived in Ephraim, Wisconsin with his wife, Susan, until he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home on June 2, 2022 at the age of 95. |
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