I've been painting for more than half of my life. Prior to that music was my choice of expression. But when I did pick up my first brush I was hooked. I fell in love with watercolors and sold my very first paintings right out of the framer's shop. That encouraged me and pushed me onward.

I spent the next 10 years painting and selling at art shows and galleries throughout the northwest United States. In the late 1980's I started Sierra Artist's Association in Reno, NV. In the early 90's I opened up "Two Sisters Gallery" in Reno, NV. It was a working gallery where I had so many wonderful artists and teachers. We taught everything from paper making to advanced oil painting. It was in my gallery that I was introduced to oils.

Saying that I’m a self-taught artist seems diluted and an incorrect statement. Not having a degree in art does not reflect the hours I have studied and been taught by the masters, read from great scholars on art history or instructed by more experienced artists on the uses and applications of all the mediums. Nor does it reflect the tuition I have paid for this education. I would say being self-taught for me has meant the same as home teaching my youngest son. Being self-motivated and having the ability to self-educate oneself certainly holds water for those of us who do poorly in a classroom environment.

What I do stand on is being authentic. I've always felt that it was cheating to use other artist's techniques. Correct or not I need to be authentic. My work is now in private collections throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and China.

How does my art affect you? Does it make you smile or raise your blood pressure? Does it make you happy or sad? That's what painting is about for me. I love to pick out a canvas and just let it happen. No preconceived ideas. I just put some color on the canvas and keep going. I can tell you the exact paint stroke I did that started "Red Mountain". Many times when I've finished a painting, I find the real painting when I turn it upside down. That seems to reflect life, don't you think?

Have I won awards? Yes. Is it important? Maybe. It gives me a boost of confidence, kicks in my competitive side and it's always a compliment, but as an artist I would have to say no. The only thing that is important to me is painting, creating, working, escaping into that other realm and expressing me at that moment. To me it's my own theatre, where I can write my own plays and listen to the music that explodes from a finished piece.

I want my art to make you feel something. No, the truth is that I want you to know me. Art is the only universal language. I have something to say and I want you to listen. Hear my joy, my pain, my confusion, my who or whatever I am at that moment. Each is a self portrait of me.

Critique:

Crossing the borders of realism into abstract fantasy, artist Peggy Guichu renders not only an original work with each new piece, but creates in new dimensions not yet stylized within her other worldly creations combining the spiritual, emotional, and universal languages creating her own visual dialect in the abstract realm unique to all others.  The hand of a master and genius combined in one - a rare treat to witness. 

Denise Williams
Art Director
Santa Fe ArtWorld

Critique:

I find your work original, intriguing, complex, and riveting. One aspect that is notable is that your art is frequently beautiful while never, ever descending into merely decorative or pretty. Yours is not work one would buy merely to match the colors in the couch and living room scheme, although people might. It's serious, genuine art, not prettified abstracts.

Bubbles is sheerly (unqualified, utter; also diaphanous) beautiful.The different layers  of paint echo the lightness and translucency of bubbles. The composition itself shows a bubble scheme, an effervescence of image as opposed to a highly structured composition. Guichu's use of color also emphasizes the "bubbleness" of the piece with its bursts of tints as if a bubble had exploded into a splotch of delightful color. The playfulness of "Bubbles" corresponds to the theme, as well. The bubbles appear to float on a soft background of mist. The piece brings to mind...no one! While the antecedents are deeply rooted in abstraction, I can't think of any other artist whose work seems similar. Guichu has pulled off a singular, individualized piece of work, as is true of all her pieces.

M.Y. Mim
Art Critic