By Matthew Holcomb
Peter DeSimone’s work fluctuates between abstract-expressionism and realism, oil and sketch, mural and literary fiction – but the unifying drive behind all his work is an unshakable urge to unveil that which is candid and genuine in all his subjects.
“I developed an interest in painting when I was very young,” said DeSimone, “I started with drawing and kept it as a hobby, though it was always a great passion of mine.” DeSimone expanded his childhood pursuits into other mediums through high school, exploring pastels and oils: “I went to a high school that did not offer an art program, which inspired me to do my own thing,” said DeSimone. His adoration and fascination with the visual arts unveiled an interest in literature, moving DeSimone to devour books and kindle a burning desire to write literary fiction of his own.
After high school, DeSimone attended the Rochester School of Technology, but found the art program too disciplined for his taste. He graduated with a degree in social work, a field he continues to work in as an member of the DCF. Despite rejecting the opportunity to be formally trained in the arts, DeSimone’s lifelong passion for art has endured.
Escaping to Harvard Square during his lunch hours, DeSimone would sit and sketch the unfamiliar faces he encountered there. As these sketches grew numerous, DeSimone decided to transform his raw works into the oil painting series “People I Don’t Know.”
This project was particularly gratifying for DeSimone, as it allowed him to grapple with a favored subject ~ the unadulterated. “What was great was how genuine the sketches would be,” said DeSimone. “Often the subject would not know they were being sketched, and had no time to put up a guise. We all have a guise we put up and it takes a lot of work to maintain the gap between what we want people to know and what we don’t want them to know. I try to fill that gap with my paintings.”
DeSimone’s talents continue to overrun the canvas and have flowed into the street, taking shape as mural paintings. DeSimone’s mural works have been commissioned and requested by all manner of parties, including Fenway Park. Also, eager to display his work in Worcester (DeSimone is a Framingham resident), he participated in stART on the Street. “It was a great day and the whole experience was fantastic,” said DeSimone. “It gave my work a lot of exposure.”
His lingering love of literature has also reached fruition, with two completed manuscripts stirring up interest amongst literary agents. His primary passion remains firmly rooted in oil paintings though, where he foresees another impending shift from realism back to abstract-expressionism.
Those interested in seeing DeSimone’s work can view his upcoming series “People I Don’t Know” at the Panache Coffee house in Framingham. Those interested in owning an original work can purchase a piece from DeSimone’s website ~ desimonecreations.com/index.html ~ or commission a piece of their own by contacting him at pete@desimonecreations.com.