Since his youth, baseball art and photography have always captured Peter's attention and imagination. Growing up in Los Angeles, Peter admired the regal uniforms of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the California Angels and enjoyed browsing through baseball photos at the local library and bookstores. Discovering early on that his abilities came with the brush and not the bat, Peter combined his love for baseball and art while continuing to hone his craft. After graduating from U.C. Berkeley and giving back as a high school art teacher, he went on to pursue a subsequent career in graphic design. During this time, he produced illustrations, corporate logos, brochures and websites for entities such as News Corp., Stamps.com, Baby Ruth, Red Mango, Animal Wow and 1in6. Following more than a decade of designing for clients and longing for greater artistic freedom, Peter began painting ballplayer portraits. When not painting, he enjoys keeping up with his beloved yet geographically-confused Angels. Peter currently lives with his wife and son in Torrance, California.
As a child I found baseball to be a fountain of inspiration that continues flowing forth to this day. Currently, I am drawn to baseball portraiture and the iconic quality inherent in baseball's greatest players. This iconic portrait style is a direct reflection of my graphic design background, and the choice of acrylic on canvas is both practical and flexible. As with life in general, painting to me is as much about the process as it is the finished product. So in the end each painting is a labor of love. There are no hidden meanings behind each painting. Rather, the paintings reflect a signature style that can be appreciated much like a batter's stance or a pitcher's windup and delivery.
I hope you enjoy the paintings and thanks for visiting.
Peter Chen