Abigail Peek ‘24 is a painter, sculptor, photographer and creator all in one. She has been a prolific artist ever since she was little, and has produced many works during her high school career. More recently, her artwork is being displayed in the Senior Art Exhibition in Richardson Hall where her must-see paintings are displayed. Before we get an insight on her most recent pieces, we have to go back to the beginning to learn about Abigail’s background and beginnings in art. Abigail described her journey doing art and the process of formulating a piece. She also described the process it took to create some of the pieces.

“I’ve always had an artistic side,” Abigail said. “My dad is an architect so he introduced art to me when I was little. There [were] times when I was little…we would be in restaurants and we’d be drawing on napkins or drawing on, like, tablecloths. So it’s always been a constant for me. I’ve always been in art and my dad has really pushed that. So it was only natural for me to continue that in high school.”

Every artist has a message they send with their art, whether the message is clear or undefined. For Abigail’s abstract art, that message is up to the interpretation of the viewer.

“I’m not directly sending a message,” Abigail said. “But I do want to evoke some type of feeling. So when they see, like, my all-blue piece out there, I want them to feel a type of coolness and kind of [ease] when you’re looking at it.”

While some artists have a motive or idea for their works, Abigail said she has never had a real plan for any of her paintings, but rather does with her gut for what to paint about. She stares at her canvas, and waits for the ideas to start pouring out.

“Of course, I have loose parameters,” Abigail said. “But it’s not always like a direct ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this’. I…just let my paintbrush do whatever it wants to do [at] that moment. And it usually comes out pretty okay.”

As Abigail is graduating this year, she is pondering on how to continue art when she goes off to college at Georgia Tech. She is deciding whether to pick an architecture major and an industrial design major, as those are two fields of study that involve creativity as well as science and design.

“I understand…the stereotype of majoring in art doesn’t make you any money,” Abigail said. “But I do want to follow my passion in some type of way and, of course, make money.” 

It’s safe to say that Abigail has taken a hearty sampling of the art classes that Woodward has to offer: she took Drawing during freshman year, Painting during her sophomore year, Sculpture during her junior year, and Photography and Painting as a senior this year. Even though painting is her favorite art medium as well as the one she frequents the most, Abigail said that Photography class at Woodward has been her favorite class out of all the other classes she has taken.

“I think this year, [photography] just opened my eyes to a lot of things,” Abigail said. “I’ve always been a photographer, of course, with my phone and stuff, but I think black and white photography has offered something different and unique to me.”

In recent weeks, the Senior Art Exhibition has been presented in Richardson Hall, housing seniors’ works of art in many different mediums. Abigail has four paintings and one photograph on display.

A notable painting from her collection mentioned earlier is called “Feeling Blue”. Abigail started the painting on Experience the Arts Day last year but didn’t like how it was coming about, so she scrapped the idea. What we see today is a periwinkle-cerulean-indigo masterpiece that incorporates different textures, such as bubble wrap.

“Feeling Blue” by Abigail Peek. Come see this painting in the Senior Art Exhibition on the second floor of Richardson Hall! Photo courtesy Daniela Palatchi

“At first I hated this painting, not gonna lie,” Abigail said. “But I think as I let it settle and like, look at it…I am impressed  by how many ways I was able to create this painting.”