An interview with passionate artist and Native American historian --
Peggy Beerta
When did you know you wanted to paint, to really create?
As a child I was always drawing and painting, at school my favorite lessons were art and crafting. My parents were very supportive and wanted me to go to a school of arts. I didn't go, I wanted to earn money so I started working a regular job. After many many years, I realized there wasn't a single job I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. At the age of 48 I decided to take the jump, and to give myself three years to try to make a living of creating art because that is where my heart really is and what I really want to do. It is my passion to the fullest.
You were born in The Netherlands, did the area, the scenery, landscape where you grew up in, have an impact on how you paint today?
Not how I paint today. I grew up in big cities, born in Rotterdam. When I was 34, I decided to move to the countryside. That at the time inspired me to paint flowers, mostly tulips and poppy's. At the moment I mostly paint Native American portraits, that has no link at all with where or how I grew up. Every now and then I paint something else, though not often anymore. However, California does inspire me with all her beautiful nature and scenery.
What brought you to Northern California?
I can be brief about that: the love of my life, my husband.
Were you an artist in The Netherlands?
Yes, but I also worked full-time for 30 years. The last two or three years before I decided to become a full-time artist, I worked part-time so that I could spend more time creating. Pretty soon after I started painting, I had a few shows in The Netherlands with my paintings and sculptures. Also I was published in newspapers several times. I started sculpting in 1992. My first sculpture was a 13 feet high totempole believe it or not. After that, I took sculpting classes. (Sometimes I do things backwards, smile.) It was supposed to be a four year course, but after the second year my teacher told me that there was nothing more he could teach me and advised me to either complete the course for fun or go on by myself. I did the last thing. However, I don't sculpt that much anymore. As for painting, I am completely self taught, never had any schooling for that. I started painting in 1997 and had my first show at a gallery in The Netherlands in 1998. Most of the work showed there was sold. After that I took it easy for a while, had to recharge my batteries lol. In 2005 I quit my job to become a full time artist and really started painting seriously.
What is it about your paintings that you want people to feel or see?
I hope they can feel and see l what the paintings are trying to tell them. My portraits carry a message from the Spirit. Some of my other paintings bring a smile on people's faces, either because of the vibrant colors or because of the subject.
What is the strongest influence for your paintings?
My spiritual world, my feelings and the beauty of creation. My husband is Mescalero Apache and he has a beautiful spirit. It is his spirit that completely changed me, my world, and opened my heart and spirit for his religion and traditions. His love moves something deep within me and that is what guides me and what I try to pass on to the people who look at my work.
Every painter bestowes small gifts everytime someone looks at their paintings. What gifts of feelings are you trying to give them?
I'm trying to give them some joy and happiness with the bright colors of my flowers. With my Native American portraits I hope that they can feel the spiritual power that comes from them. I have had people stand before my paintings who spontaneously started to cry. Others just stood there completely motionless for a long time, just staring, and I could see all kinds of emotions going through them. I was told my Native American portraits have healing power. I am healing myself when I paint them, and through my finished painting, I am healing the ones who stand before them. So with those I try to give healing, inner peace and love.
If you didn't paint, what profession would you like to be in?
I've been in public relations for over 21 years, I really liked that. But I couldn't do that for the rest of my life. There was a time where I wanted to be a singer or an actress. But as you grow older (and sometimes wiser), you change, so if I would have to pick something else right now, I would say I would like to be a Healer of the Spirit.
The poppy's that you painted stop people in their tracks. Where were you in your mind when you created them?
It was Spring, I was sitting on the deck of my rental cabin in the forest at that time. I put up a big umbrella to keep the sun off my canvas and I ended up with the poppy's. When I am really into painting, I don't know where I am in my mind, I travel. These poppy's are poppy's that grow in my old country, the skies sometimes are really that blue. It's a happy painting so I know I was in a happy place.
Your Native Americans are both beautiful and provocative, but it is clear that they are much more than just a painting. Who are they and what experience do they come from?
Sometimes I paint people who really excist or have passed on because something in their Spirit touches me. Other times it remains a mystery. Also for me. You see, I have an empty canvas. I create a background and after that I paint a portrait. I never make a sketch, never a try-out. I directly paint from my heart and spirit. I don't think when I paint. The only time I think is when I stand there at the beginning of a new portrait, putting paint on the canvas and see how horrible it looks what I am doing. Then I tell 'myself ' what are you thinking woman? You can't paint!' I try to ignore that voice and just go on. I mostly start with a rough outline of the face and then I put the eyes in. As soon as I do that, I can see the Spirit of The One I am painting, whoever that may be. And then I let my feelings flow and Creator takes my hand and creates. I'm really just a tool. I'm glad Creator does the work because I can't paint. Serious.
How do you want to be remembered?
I would be perfectly happy when people get a smile on their face and feel love in their heart when they think of me. That would be the most beautiful remembrance.
