Old Blog

Hello there! If you've found your  way here through the CBS Evening News piece, please visit my new website paintingsbypeterjdamon.com You can also visit me at our brick and mortar art gallery, True Grit Art Gallery, 38 Center St in Middleboro, MA. You may want to call first to see if I'm in- 774-419-4160. Thanks for visiting my old blog!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

"A Carol for the Fallen"  8"x 10" oil on canvasboard $350 *SOLD*

To purchase this painting, email me at truegritartgallery@gmail.com or call

774-419-4160 Tuesdays thru Saturdays, 10am- 5pm

More paintings by me are available through my 'brick and mortar' business, 'True Grit Art Gallery', at truegritartgallery.com

It's been a while since I've painted anything new. The stress and hectic undertaking of opening a new business has kept me away from my easel these past few months. In these times, inspiration is often far off and elusive as my mind is preoccupied with other things. This past weekend however, I happened to catch a news story on television which spotlighted the efforts of thousands of volunteers and charitable patriots who had endeavored to decorate the headstones of our nation's fallen heroes at several National Cemeteries across the country. The task was headed up by 'Wreaths Across America', which every year gathers hundreds of thousands of donated Christmas wreaths from benefactors from all over the nation and world. Seeing this display of goodwill warmed my heart and was indeed the sorely needed spark to ignite that burning flame of inspiration deep in my soul. Perhaps I can use this image as next year's Christmas card design. 

Some Current Offerings

Top: "Fishing Vessels (South Boston)" 12"x 16" oil on canvasboard $500 *SOLD*

Bottom: "Morning Greys" 9"x 12" oil on canvasboard $400 *SOLD*

 To purchase either painting, email me at truegritartgallery@gmail.com or call

774-419-4160 Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

"Checking the Traps (Off Gloucester)" 6"x 12" oil on gallery-wrap canvas $400 *SOLD*

To purchase painting, email me at truegritartgallery@gmail.com or call

774-419-4160 Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

So as you know, I've been offline for awhile. The reason being is that I've had to come up with a sizable inventory to display in my wife and I's new 'brick and mortar' art gallery called, True Grit Art Gallery, located in the center of our hometown of Middleboro, MA. I've got roughly 14 of my own paintings hung as well as paintings, photography, and pottery from over 16 local, New England, artists. A couple of my fellow artists here are veterans as well. In any case, True Grit Art Gallery is a Veteran Owned business and it would do you well to shop there, LOL! But seriously, I've greatly appreciated all the business my patrons have given me over the past years and I want you to know you're helping this disabled vet to live his dream as an artist.

Our gallery Grand Opening was a big success. About 200 turned out to attend through the night. If you're ever in town, please stop by to visit us. We're located at 38 Center St, Middleboro, MA, 02346, 774-419-4160, www.truegritartgallery.com 

Grand Opening Reception at True Grit Art Gallery 11-20-15

True Grit Art Gallery, 38 Center St, Middleboro, MA, 0234

Online Again

Artist and Disabled Veteran, Pete Damon at 

True Grit Art Gallery in Middleboro, MA

Okay, so maybe I haven't been the best blogger; but I've been busy doing other things! My wife and I have recently opened a fine art gallery in our hometown of Middleboro, MA. True Grit Art Gallery is now open Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10am- 5pm at 38 Center St, Middleboro, MA 02346. You can view and purchase my work as well as the works of over 15 other New England artists. Our Grand Opening Reception is Friday, November 20th from 7pm-10pm. If you can't make it to our physical location, check us out on Facbook at  https://www.facebook.com/True-Grit-Art-Gallery-1564873107104564/?ref=hl or visit our website - www.truegritartgallery.com . You can also follow us on Twitter,  https://twitter.com/TGArtGallery

Summer's End

"Best Buds" 8x8 oil on board $300 *SOLD*

All paintings are framed with 3" wide "plein air " style gold frames and ready to hang.

To purchase painting, email me at truegritartgallery@gmail.com or call

774-419-4160 Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

                 As the summer is officially coming to an end, I'm reminded of the promise I made back in June to get more work done and posted on this blog. As always, I make promises I can't keep. The simple fact is that as a double amputee, there are a myriad of complications and intervening circumstances that always seem to hold me back from attaining the goals I set for myself. However, I realize that I must "drive on" and continue to strive for achievement, less I become stagnant and morose. I'm happy to report to you that it's not all glum though. I've managed to salvage a couple paintings from my otherwise impotent summer of inactivity.

               The first, I've posted above and depicts two boys enjoying their day at the beach. Many of us can recall happy memories of idyllic summer days like this which adorn the halls of our minds-eye like magnificent paintings in a regal gallery. They construct a foundation of remembrances on which will help bear the weight of life experience .  

Back Again

"River Traffic" oil on canvas 48"x 24" $1500  *SOLD*

To purchase  painting, email me at truegritartgallery@gmail.com or call

774-419-4160 Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

       It's been a while since I've posted anything new on this blog. I guess I've just been busy with some side painting projects. That's no excuse though. I need to keep producing new work if I ever want to make it as a serious artist. That's why I'm making a commitment to get at least 2 posts a month on this blog for the remainder of the year. And hopefully, I'll be able to increase that output next year. I'll count on you to keep me to my commitment. If I start to slack again, email me and tell me to get it together. 

       This painting depicts a busy day on the Savannah River. Rather than painting pleasure craft in my seascapes, I'm more drawn to the working class vessels. There's a noble integrity about them that always captures the imagination for me. This rather large painting kept me busy for most of the month of May. Before that, I did the piece below for the Military Officers Association of America. They wanted a painting for their "Community Heroes" awards, which celebrates caregivers of wounded veterans. The theme was 'triumph over tragedy'.

                               

                                                                              

"Perseverance" 40"x36" oil on canvas NFS

   I have some good quality prints of this painting. Email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com for more info. 

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REACHING OUT TO THE WOUNDED OF BOSTON

                                                   

        Witnessing the horror unfold on the television screen on Monday shook me to the core, as I'm sure it did all Americans. The emotions I felt ranged from shock to sadness and anger. The same feelings I had when I was fresh out of basic and AIT training on September 11, 2001. In those days everyone felt a sense of duty unparalleled in American history since WWII. Perhaps it seemed even more personal because this time the attacks had hit home here in the Boston area. Even though my days of military service are over, there remains a great sense of duty and a compelling urge to reach out to those immediately affected by the attacks. I couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with some of the victims of that horrific event. I offered the following words of support on my Facebook page:
     
         "As a veteran, double amputee, and fellow Massachusetts resident, I'd like to offer my condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the victims of yesterday's attack. I'd also like to offer words of comfort and support to those whose lives were forever changed yesterday by traumatic loss of limbs. Although it's undeniably tragic , you will recover. And you must have hope that this terrible trauma will in no way stop you from living a full and productive life. In fact, this will be a defining moment in your life. In the coming days, weeks, and months, you will find a strength and resilience you never knew you had. Take solace in the fact that we, in the veteran community are recovering with you. Look to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have lost limbs for support and inspiration."

            In the days and weeks after suffering traumatic limb loss while serving in Iraq in the fall of 2003, I was unsure of what the future held for me. Up until that time I had been working as an electrician and then as a military aircraft mechanic. Suddenly, at 31, after a lifetime of working with my hands since the age of 16,  I found myself a double amputee . The occupational therapists at Walter Reed Army Medical Center sensed this in me and would try and show me examples of other people who had sustained similar injuries who were now doing amazing things. One video they showed  me was of a middle aged Vietnam Veteran and double arm amputee named Jerry Miserandino who was rock climbing with his 2 prosthetic arms. That video really did a lot to spark a flame of hope deep in my soul. Meeting him later, and observing  his tough, no nonsense,take-on-the-world attitude would do even more to fan those flames of hope inside me, which would later turn into a raging inferno of passion to overcome limitations and pursue a dream of becoming an accomplished artist. I want those victims of Boston to feel that same spark of hope which was such an inspiration to me in my earliest days of recovery.