Peter Wallis
Visual Artist & Educator
- Fremont, CA
- 802.299.9127
- peter.wallis.art@gmail.com
M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Art
Goddard College-2010
B.F.A in Illustration with a Double Minor in Art History & Drawing
Maine College of Art-2006
I am a passionate artist and educator with a vision for developing lasting art, media and design programs. That passion is seen in my connection with students, collaboration with colleagues, and the creative work produced in my classroom.
I have 15 years of experience as a visual art faculty member. I am a Practicing Visual Artist. I have a background as a Summer Programs Director and as an Education Director at a Non-Profit Art Center. For the last 10 years, I have built, managed and developed programming for Maker-Spaces at Independent Schools throughout California.
Art has the capacity to create meaningful change in our communities. I encourage students to find their own voice and style in the work they create. Art is a social practice that can advocate and foster themes of social justice, equity, innovation and change. I design art courses to have a broader global view of art history and contemporary art. Everyday I am fulfilled growing, learning and creating work alongside students.
I led elementary and middle school visual art classes and a 6th grade advisory. I developed interdisciplinary Art classes where students can meet projects where they are and find voice and choice in the work they are creating. I created inovative art and design electives in the middle-school. I support graphic design and illustration students to create a student-designed yearbook. I made pathways for colleagues to collaborate and connect academic work to studio art projects.
I developed visual art and design curriculum at a charter high school. I built the program on a foundation of course using the principles of art and design. I scaffold student's success developing high quality work by demonstrating techniques and modeling discipline. My courses gave students the opportunity to enter projects where they are and have a voice in designing projects as they created their own pathway with their creative confidence using project based learning. Studio projects all had context to Art History and Contemporary Art.
I led the Visual Art Program developing for middle and high-school students. I led foundation art course work and specialized electives. I integrated emerging trends in new media and design thinking pedagogy into all my course work. I supported students one on one as a coach and led a life-design core class. My work covered many aspects of visual art, design, and support for students who were interested in pursuing careers in the arts. I worked to create student portfolios and supported and partnered with faculty members as they developed curriculum in the MakerSpace at ATI.
As a founding member of a Progressive High School, I designed courses that shaped all aspects of student's visual art studies at the High School level. I led Drawing, Painting, Animation, Film, Printmaking, Graphic Design, Design Thinking, Digital Arts, and Critical Theory classes. At the K-8 campus, I supported the teaching and learning in the Maker-Space with design-thinking pedagogy, practices and projects. I supprted outdoor education trips, exhibitions, community events and worked with the Social Innovation Program to create design and visual art projects in the larger Los Angeles community.
As the director of a Summer Program, I designed all courses, events, and trips. I managed the overall pedagogy and budget of a summer program at a small progressive school. I led morning meetings and was the point of contact for parents, students, and staff. I led faculty meetings and supported teachers in the classroom and led fun community events and activities. I designed all collateral materials and created creative marketing projects that drove interest and enrollment to the program.
I led courses in Animation, Film, Digital Photography, and Design Thinking at a 7-12 Visual Art Program at an Independent School. I assisted the admissions office in directing films for prospective local and international students. I curated and ran a student film festival at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. I led a ninth-grade advisory period and assisted teachers with the use of 3D printers and emerging trends in technology.
I was a leading faculty memeber at a residential arts program and working farm at a progressive boarding school. I led course work in Illustration, Animation, Printmaking, and Self Publication at a summer arts program for students ages 13-17. I organized and facilitated the faculty gallery exhibition. I led community events and presentations and served as an educator and mentor. I transitioned the program online during the pandemic and continue to carry the ethos of the Putney School into my teaching practice.
I implemented emerging trends in New Media and technology into lesson plans and balanced digital and traditional mediums and techniques as a K-12 Art Teacher. I led a 7th grade advisory period and a graphic design class that oversaw the production of the school yearbook. I worked closely with primary classroom teachers to create lessons that have context and application into student's classroom learning. I served as a mentor to upper school students leading classes in illustration, animation, photography, film, graphic design, 2D, Art History & Drawing.
I led visual art workshops for K-8 students. I managed the Innovation Lab working with emerging trends in New Media and Design. I led after school Art and Design Programs. I worked as a web designer and supported communications and development projects. I organized a student gallery exhibition in support of the work at the Coastside Land Trust in Half Moon Bay, California.
I was a full-time Arts Faculty at the Vail Mountain School teaching K-12 Visual Art courses. I was also a 6th-grade home-base teacher and worked with the comminications office on web design and social media projects. I taught digital art, animation, and AP art classes integrating emerging trends in new media with traditional mediums and practices.
Graphic Designer at a Global Obstacle Race Company
Full time teaching Artist in Residence at a Kindergarten through Sixth-grade primary school in Vermont during the month of September in 2013. I led workshops in Animation, Printmaking, Drawing, and Illustration.
During my time at this position, I have worn many hats, as a liaison of all the educational programming. I developed programing that continues on today. I supported grant-writing projects as I brought my vision to create a inclusive art program in my local community. Serving as the graphic and web designer, I helped to facilitate web and press projects. I had the opportunity to meet and work with a diverse group of artists on a curatorial, administrative, and educational capacity.
I worked with elementary students on animation and graphic novel workshops. Students worked together to explore trends in new media, stop motion animation, and illustrating a visual narrative.
Residential Support Scholarship in El Bruc Spain at Can Serrat international artist residency. I created a graphic novel with writer Devan Schwartz titled Beckett’s Nexus. The graphic novel was loosely based on the Guernica bombing, Picasso’s Mural, and a character’s thoughts of reincarnation.
Graphic Designer at a small publishing company in Monkton, Vermont
During this summer I was a teaching assistant to faculty and staff and supported the work of inspiring educators, cartoonists and artists. It gave me valuable experience about the history of narrative practices and gave me an opportunity to help support a wonderful summer program as a teaching assistant.
Foundation courses 2-D, 3-D, Drawing, Art History & Critical Theory are an essential ingredient to an academic and personal journey into any Art Practice. A comprehensive understanding of Art History both past and present gives the artist’s work context. I plan all my studio course work to adhere to clear guidelines, technical support and classroom critiques. Exploration with form and content, in most cases is a Non-Linear learning process. Establishing clear goals and guidelines helps to organize the expectations I have of students and the expectations they have of themselves.
It is inspiring when my students become passionate and engaged in the work they are creating. Exposing students to different approaches, new materials and ways of expressing themselves gives the student the tools and critical discourse needed to create their own definition of Art.
Thoughtful exploration of traditional 2-D, 3-D & Drawing techniques as well as an understanding of Art History and contemporary art empowers students to be insightful and establish their own path as an Artist.
I want students to leave my class excited about what they are learning, and eager to push the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of in the next class and beyond.
-Comprehensive understanding of Adobe Creative Suite, strong understanding of layout and design for both print and web material.
-Experience cultivating databases as well as proven leadership with marketing and fundraising efforts for Non-Profit organizations. Proven leadership working as an administrator and faculty member organizing workshops and gallery exhibitions.
-An interdisciplinary approach to Printmaking techniques. I use green printmaking materials, my creative practice centralizes around a passion for printmaking, drawing and Art History.
-Strong interpersonal skills in both managing gallery shows, as well as implementing visual art education workshops for adults and children. Proven leadership experience managing arts workshops and instructors, teaching experience in many different techniques and practices.
-Experience with narrative forms and contemporary illustration approaches. Teaching skills leading digital and traditional animation techniques for students K-12.
-Design Thinking and experience developing an Innovation Lab space and curriculum in a K-8 independent school.
Big Sky Bakery- Group Show: Recent Landscape Drawings -2002 (ME)
Portland Public Market- Solo Exhibition - 2004 (ME)
*Free Street Tavern- Group Exhibition- Recent Etchings- 2005 (ME)
Five Town Massive- Group Exhibition & Multi-Media Presentations- 2006 (VT)
Putney School Faculty Gallery Show- Etchings and Children's Book- 2007 (VT)
*Goddard College Gallery Show- Recent Printmaking and Illustration Work-2008 (VT)
*Goddard College Gallery Show- Illustration Group Show-2009 (VT)
Can Serrat International Art Residency- Beckett's Nexus Graphic Novel Process Exhibit and Presentation-2009 (ES)
*Chaffee Art Center- Summer Member's Show- 2010 (VT)
Chaffee Art Center- Death of the Pain Body Installation- 2012 (VT)
Firefly Collective Gallery- Artists & Grief Exhibition- 2012 (VT)
*Putney School Summer Faculty Exhibition- 2011-15 (VT)
-2011-Graphic Novel-Beckett's Nexus
-2012-Charcoal Boy Installation
-2013-Honto's Cave Installation
-2014- Aquarius Installation
-2015-Animation, Multi-Media, Recent workH
Brotherly Advice-SF MOMA: Featured Work -2019
https://sfmoma.tumblr.com/sfmoma.tumblr.com/post/188281119343/brotherly-advice-mixed-media-2019
Hotel Capri-SF MOMA: Featured Work -2019
https://sfmoma.tumblr.com/sfmoma.tumblr.com/post/627086662827180032/peter-wallis-hotel-capri-mixed-media-2020
Mindful Art Exhibition: Mangalam Art Center, Berkeley California-2019 (CA)
https://mangalamcenter.com/mindfulartgallery/
De Young Open: "What Remains of the Dawn Land" Oct 2020- Jan 2021
https://deyoung.famsf.org/exhibitions/de-young-open
Sacred | Mundane Solo Show: Chaffee Art Center- March-April 2021
https://www.chaffeeartcenter.org/upcoming-exhibit-the-art-of-technology/
Turning Point School: Art Faculty Exhibition: Sept. 2021.- Jan. 2021
La Luz de Jesus: Everything But the Kitchen Sink Exhibition: June-August 2022 (CA)
FEAST: Group Exhibition at Starlite San Diego Curated by: Trash Lamb Gallery: Sept. 2022 (CA)
Lois Lambert Gallery: Solo Show- Sacred /Mundane - Nov. 12 2022- Feb. 11 2023
Less than an old pair of Centenaries III: Group Exhibition at Starlite San Diego Curated by: Trash Lamb Gallery: Nov. 2022 (CA)
Surreal Salon: Baton Rouge Gallery -Jan. 2023 (LA)
Fran Bull \ Peter Wallis: Chaffee Art Center-July 2023 (VT)
* = Curated Exhibition
The Art of Technology-Rutland Herald March 2021
https://www.rutlandherald.com/features/vermont_arts/the-art-of-technology-chaffee-looks-to-the-art-of-tomorrow/article_47152320-272a-5a43-a94a-8fb8530b5f66.html
Youthful Memories of Rutland- Oct 2020
https://www.rutlandherald.com/features/vermont_arts/artist-peter-wallis-youthful-memories-of-rutland/article_824ec549-d26a-59a3-88de-bd8c60aaa8e0.html
Design Thinking in the Classroom: Camera Obscura- Nov. 2016
https://www.rubicon.com/design-thinking-something-catchy/
Animation and Dance Collaborations at the Putney School- Oct. 2013
http://inspirationlab.org/story/4462
Sabra Field at Chaffee Art Center in Rutland- Feb. 2010
http://vermontartzine.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-sabra-field-at-chaffee-art.html
Innovation Lab Opening at Sea Crest School
http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/groups/sea-crest-news-and-events/p/sea-crest-school-unveils-new-innovation-lab-and-second-story
The Art of...Graphic Novels
http://www.kidsvt.com/vermont/the-art-of-graphic-novels/Content?oid=2141497
The Color of Nature
http://www.hmbreview.com/community/the-color-of-nature/article_d893129c-0ae4-11e5-a785-7ff477d9345c.html
Can Serrat International Artist Residency
Support Stipend 2009 | Graphic Novel, Illustration Studio work
https://canserrat.org/
Recent Work