Peter Wood

"I've been living in the Southwest for most of my life. Before that, first in New York, then California. My Taos, New Mexico studio was the original Model T garage of a historical hacienda that once belonged to Kit Carson who lived across the street. These buildings are very near the Plaza of the Town of Taos.

When I took over the rent on that studio, my days of being on the LA art scene were long over. Those were the days of experimenting with painting and lifestyle. As a painter, I was particularly interested in working figuratively—classically, but with an eye to a modern use of shapes. It was about how the figures took their place on the canvas. This led to a brief period of Abstract painting, which is a joy in itself in a very painterly way. Gone too were my days as a Renaissance Pleasure Faire craftsman in Northern and Southern California. I was a leather smith specializing in the sculptural design of beautiful and useful shoulder bags and luggage. I was known as Squire...