Oskar Petersen
Oskar Petersen (@stallionwilson) is our Nob Hill Cafe artist for February - May 2021.
Below is a brief interview with Oskar to get to hear a little bit about the process and inspiration behind his current pieces showing at Little Bear Coffee, and get to know him a little better.
Tell us about you, who you are, and your art:
I'm born and raised in Albuquerque. My middle name is Aage. I played french horn in middle school. I play guitar and sing in a band called Crime Lab. In high school I wanted to study fashion. In college I was a poetry major and then ended up getting a business degree at UNM. I commute between Albuquerque to Santa Fe a couple times a week and occasionally stop for a corn dog at one of the gas stations in between. I'm a big Minnesota Vikings fan.
For a couple years I have been doing my pieces on big post-it notes hung around the apartment. I would use a magic marker and continue to add to all the pieces when I'd walk passed until they looked like nonsense. I started using oil pastels and loved that they were restrictive in color and messy. I was laid off early 2020 and hired back in July, I had to dive into making big pieces as a way to ground myself with the ups and downs in my life. I try to put my hope into the pieces and give my surroundings an opportunity to speak up. The drive between Albuquerque and Santa fe is the setting for a lot of my pieces and a constant source of inspiration.
What has been the biggest obstacle for you creatively? And the greatest joy?
The biggest obstacle for me creatively is whenever I have an expectation for a piece. Whether it's a song or a painting, you can't count your chickens before they hatch. Whenever I think too broadly about anything I'm working on, I get caught in this conceptual spiral. I can also spend an eternity searching for the correct vibe to begin working. I'll light incense, make a playlist, etc. When I'm painting and start to get the urge to call friends, I'll usually quit for the day because I know I'm getting bored.
My greatest joy creatively is attempting a piece I have an idea for and missing my mark by so much I create something that alters where I want my work to go. I try to be clumsy with my pieces and free myself from mistakes and let the piece surprise me.
“ I think paintings are big elaborate prayers to the universe. Every painting is a wish into the well…
I hope my pieces can bring people warmth and hope. I hope my pieces celebrate where we find ourselves.”
Any books, albums, podcasts, movies you’ve read, listened to, or watched that you enjoy or inspired by?
Books:
Two books that helped me out recently were Start Where You Are, by Pema Chodron. A book of mantras to try and interact with the world in a more compassionate way.
The second I needed to read was This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace. I quit drinking almost a year ago and this book was helpful in that department.
Podcasts:
I listen to a sickening amount of podcasts. While I paint I listen to Tara Brach's podcast about Mindfulness and Self Compassion. My other podcast recommendation is If There Is Hell Below... new music from all over the world with great hosts.
Music:
My favorite record recently is Gia Margaret's “Mia Gargaret” (spotify + apple) , a peaceful soothing slightly ambient record.
Describe what it is you aim to do as an artist, and how you feel it impacts you and your community?
My aim is to bring weird and chaotic pieces into the world and share them with people. I think paintings are big elaborate prayers to the universe. Every painting is a wish into the well. All of my pieces are usually about me asking the universe to keep a loved one safe. I hope my pieces can bring people warmth and hope. I hope my pieces celebrate where we find ourselves.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I'd like to share that my partner Sam is an art teacher & artist and has helped me, for years, continue to have a positive relationship with art and continues to steer me away from really bad ideas.
Where can we find more of your art?
My art is currently only on my instagram, @stallionwilson. You can listen to my band, Crime Lab on any streaming platform!
My instagram also features the occasionaly fit pic and restaurant recommendation, you've been warned!
To purchase any of Oskar’s pieces, email him direction at:
oskaraagepetersen@gmail.com
