Show Preview | Whistle Pik Galleries: Three-Person Show

Fredericksburg, TX
November 1-December 21

Robert Peters, Autumn in the West, oil, 30 x 50.

This story was featured in the November 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art November 2013 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story!

This fall, Whistle Pik Galleries presents a much-anticipated show featuring three national award-winning artists: impressionist painter Sonya Terpening, landscape painter Robert Peters, and animal sculptor Mick Doellinger. “All three of these artists complement one another, and their works show very well together—yet each is completely different in their distinct style and representation of traditional art,” says gallery owner Tim Taylor. The show opens with an artists’ reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 1.

Mick Doellinger, Curiosity, bronze, 37 x 25 x 18.

Despite obvious differences in their work, the three artists in the show share several commonalities, including a deep appreciation for beauty and nature and a sincere dedication to their craft. For Doellinger, the development of his craft began many years ago in Australia, where he lived until moving to the U.S. in 2003. Experience in taxidermy and years of wildlife management in the Australian outback led to a profound understanding and appreciation of animal anatomy and behavior, which is evident in the 20 bronze works he displays in the show. When beginning a new piece, Doellinger says, “I have a long running list of animals that I want to sculpt, and usually I just get an idea for how I’d like to portray a particular animal.” For example, when creating the piece CURIOSITY, the artist says he “imagined a male cougar trying to get a better view of a small animal he’s just sensed in the high grass in front of him.” Doellinger’s intimate knowledge of animals in their natural environment has a significant influence on his art.

Peters also is deeply influenced by nature. “I’ve been venturing into the outdoors since I was a boy, and to this day I can still feel that sense of wonder and awe of nature, as I did so many years ago,” he says. Peters displays up to 14 new paintings in the show, most of which depict the stunning western landscapes that provide limitless inspiration for his work. “All my paintings have their beginnings with firsthand experience in the field,” he explains. One example is a new piece titled AUTUMN IN THE WEST, in which Peters captures a recent visit to the Tetons on a “remarkably atmospheric” fall day. “I have always been moved by the vast expanse of the valley floor abruptly ending at the foot of the massive Teton Range,” he says.

Sonya Terpening, Pickets and Roses, oil, 18 x 24.

For Terpening, it is typically the quiet, everyday scenes that beckon her to paint. Her works often evoke a feeling of nostalgia in the viewer and seem to speak directly to the heart. “I have always been a storyteller who uses paint instead of words,” she explains. Terpening displays about 13 new pieces in the show, including oil and watercolor paintings with subjects ranging from architecture to figures to landscapes. “My inspiration comes from all around me,” she says, adding, “I think half of an artist’s job is looking, and really seeing the beauty and stories all around them.” All three artists in the show are doing this job brilliantly. —Lindsay Mitchell

contact information
830.990.8151
www.whistlepik.com

Featured in the November 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art November 2013 print issue or digital download
Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!