Beginnings of a Career
Peter Magnus Wengel was born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1942 and began his career in art as a student of the noted Canadian artist Georgie Wilcox. He studied Fine Arts at the University of Manitoba and completed two painting courses at the Banff School of Fine Arts in the heart of the scenic Canadian Rocky Mountains. He then spent about four years travelling and painting in both Eastern Canada and Western Canada. During this time, he immersed himself in painting the varied landscapes from Ontario, west across the Prairies, through the Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific Coast. In 1968 he was successful in gaining admission to the prestigious Alberta College of Art in Calgary, where he studied full-time for four years. It was here that his horizons broadened to encompass abstract and impressionist styles, in addition to the more realistic style on which he had previously focused. His earlier works had usually been executed in oils, but at the Alberta College of Art he embraced the use of acrylics, watercolours, charcoal, and pen-and-ink. He also acquired the skills involved in different types of print-making, such as batik, screen-printing, lithographs, serigraphs etc. He graduated from the College in 1972, having majored in Painting and Drawing.
An Artist Behind the Scenes
Whilst at the Alberta College of Art, Peter had undertaken an additional course – Scenic Art – that was not part of the regular curriculum. This was to prove the foundation for much of his career in the years following. He worked as a Scenic Painter for the Vancouver Opera Association for several years, and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Vancouver for nearly ten years.
Across the Globe
In 1985 Peter moved to Sydney, Australia, with his Australian wife and their son. His first freelance job in Sydney was painting a large backdrop of the New York skyline for the movie Crocodile Dundee, which was in the early stages of production at that time. For four years Peter was employed by Australia's ABC and Channel 7 television networks as a Scenic Artist. He then spent twelve years as a Scenic Artist with Opera Australia, where his work was featured in countless opera productions at the Sydney Opera House and touring performances around Australia. Peter was still employed by Opera Australia at the time of his death in 2002.
Peter Magnus Wengel was born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1942 and began his career in art as a student of the noted Canadian artist Georgie Wilcox. He studied Fine Arts at the University of Manitoba and completed two painting courses at the Banff School of Fine Arts in the heart of the scenic Canadian Rocky Mountains. He then spent about four years travelling and painting in both Eastern Canada and Western Canada. During this time, he immersed himself in painting the varied landscapes from Ontario, west across the Prairies, through the Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific Coast. In 1968 he was successful in gaining admission to the prestigious Alberta College of Art in Calgary, where he studied full-time for four years. It was here that his horizons broadened to encompass abstract and impressionist styles, in addition to the more realistic style on which he had previously focused. His earlier works had usually been executed in oils, but at the Alberta College of Art he embraced the use of acrylics, watercolours, charcoal, and pen-and-ink. He also acquired the skills involved in different types of print-making, such as batik, screen-printing, lithographs, serigraphs etc. He graduated from the College in 1972, having majored in Painting and Drawing.
An Artist Behind the Scenes
Whilst at the Alberta College of Art, Peter had undertaken an additional course – Scenic Art – that was not part of the regular curriculum. This was to prove the foundation for much of his career in the years following. He worked as a Scenic Painter for the Vancouver Opera Association for several years, and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Vancouver for nearly ten years.
Across the Globe
In 1985 Peter moved to Sydney, Australia, with his Australian wife and their son. His first freelance job in Sydney was painting a large backdrop of the New York skyline for the movie Crocodile Dundee, which was in the early stages of production at that time. For four years Peter was employed by Australia's ABC and Channel 7 television networks as a Scenic Artist. He then spent twelve years as a Scenic Artist with Opera Australia, where his work was featured in countless opera productions at the Sydney Opera House and touring performances around Australia. Peter was still employed by Opera Australia at the time of his death in 2002.