Peg Belcastro
Shermansdale, Pennsylvania
Artist Peg Belcastro paints vibrant narratives in her colorful and energetic compositions, inspired by the wooded acres and lush gardens of her rural Pennsylvania home. Living in Alaska for ten years deeply influenced her artistic approach. "The people who live there have a particular way of thinking which is essential for surviving in the far north. It's the attitude of courage to be true to yourself, to honor your passions, and to live life to the fullest—no matter what anyone else thinks," says Peg. She knew from a young age she would follow a path in the arts and sold her first painting at age fifteen. However, it was only after retiring from a career in real estate, which included designing and building homes, that she dedicated her time to artistic exploration in her painting studio—a stand-alone structure across their driveway built by her homebuilder husband, which she calls her happy place. When she's not making art, she finds joy in cooking with homegrown produce, playing the African marimba with an all-woman band called Mazimba, and meeting artist friends over lunch to talk about art.
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Artist Statement
Color is everything! I love how a painting's palette sets the mood for the narrative within. Mixing colors is a joy for me, and I have many paint swatches created using a limited palette. It’s amazing how many hues can be invented with just three or four colors. I usually choose a color scheme before I begin a painting, which ensures harmony in the finished piece. Often, I start with a loose drawing on the canvas, typically based on thumbnails from my sketchbook. Ideas for paintings come to me at any time, day or night, so I always keep my sketchbook handy.
My husband and I live on five wooded acres with a fairly extensive garden, so our homegrown veggies and flowers often find their way into my work. Using color as language, I enjoy capturing the beauty and wonder of my natural surroundings. My work has been likened to the still-life pieces of Henri Matisse. Rural Pennsylvania's lush valleys and vibrant forests, and a decade in Alaska along Kachemak Bay, inspire memories of wide open spaces and natural beauty.
Mark Rothko's quote resonates deeply: "A painting is not a picture of an experience. It IS an experience." Painting with playfulness and discovery connects me to each piece, allowing my energy to flow freely. Each brushstroke builds layers of color, marks, and washes, guiding the painting's unique path to completion. This process of wonder and surprise brings me back to the studio daily, hoping viewers share in the joy of creation.
My husband and I live on five wooded acres with a fairly extensive garden, so our homegrown veggies and flowers often find their way into my work. Using color as language, I enjoy capturing the beauty and wonder of my natural surroundings. My work has been likened to the still-life pieces of Henri Matisse. Rural Pennsylvania's lush valleys and vibrant forests, and a decade in Alaska along Kachemak Bay, inspire memories of wide open spaces and natural beauty.
Mark Rothko's quote resonates deeply: "A painting is not a picture of an experience. It IS an experience." Painting with playfulness and discovery connects me to each piece, allowing my energy to flow freely. Each brushstroke builds layers of color, marks, and washes, guiding the painting's unique path to completion. This process of wonder and surprise brings me back to the studio daily, hoping viewers share in the joy of creation.
Artist Background
Harrisburg Area Community College
Associate of Arts, 1993
Bloomsburg University
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