‘The Significance of a Moment’

For one to be able to fully appreciate the Ping painting and the subsequent Limited Edition Print, I would like to share with you my experience of how Ping and I came to be.

I grew up in a small town in northern Ontario, Canada after the Second World War. I was the son of a German escaped prisoner of war and as such was ridiculed by my peers on a daily basis. It was not easy growing up. My father worked three jobs. He was a house painter during the day, a photographer for the all the town needs and he worked on the Marathon Mercury. As such my father was not able to spend much time with me when I was a child. I had very few moments with him but every moment we did share, I remember with great clarity.

In painting this image it is my wish and hope that fathers realize how important these ‘one on one’ moments with their sons truly are. For a father to consistently share quality time with his son(s) and create those special memories is crucial to all young boys. It is those memories that help aid in their development and maintain their love for their family, as they become men.

I unfortunately lost my father in May 1994. I hold on very tightly to the few precious memories that I have of my father and I together. Luckily for me, I still have my angelic Mother who I swear floats a foot or two off of the ground.

In 1990 I went through some life changing experiences that left me with a desire to do something important with my life. In the decade previous I had attained a modest level of financial success and fame. I was exhibiting my art in galleries in Soho, Rodeo Drive, etc. ( see bio ) Up to that point in my life I believe I was like most of my generation at least to the point that I dealt with everything in a rather narrow, self-serving way. I was only concerned for the most part with how everything outside of me, effected me. This self-discovery left me with a sense that I was wasting my life painting and creating for fame, glamour and the financial rewards. I felt that up to that this point in my career these were the rather shallow elements that seemed to encompass my life. 

I went to my studio one morning as I had done almost every day for the past 25 years, except this time I stood and stared at an empty canvas. A feeling of deep despair came over me. I did not understand it in the beginning and then suddenly it hit me. I did not want to paint anymore! This was a feeling I had never had before. It terrified me because I was nothing but an artist and if I did not want to paint anymore, my life was over. This may sound a little dramatic to some of you but I knew what I was supposed to do with my life since the age of six. I had been doing just that and only that, my whole life. For me there was just no other alternative. If I as an artist was not able to paint and create then I as a person would surly die. I felt this way because my work ceased to be satisfying. I was dissatisfied because my artwork served no greater purpose other than to simply decorate the walls of the wealthy.

Six years after this major turning point in my life, I through personal growth had been left with a burning desire to do something important with the rest of my life. I was searching for something that would help ‘The Big Picture’. I took a lengthy sabbatical to work on my painting. It was at this time that I asked God if he would please direct me and my talent to something of value that would help to improve the planet. Up to that point I really had not done much of anything to improve my world. My awakening started with a book called ‘War on the Family’ by William D. Gairdner. I came to believe that the biggest problem with western civilization was the decline of the traditional family unit. My interest grew and I knew what my job was going to be.

From that moment on I have been actively seeking out any situation where I might be able to promote, nurture and support traditional family values. I have been speaking out on this subject since that very day.

2 years later…………… My prayers are answered.

In mid 1998 I was asked to do a few golf paintings of the PING professional golfers. I was also asked to paint Karsten Solheim, founder of Karsten Manufacturing / PING and devoted father of the Karsten family. At that time I was unaware of the man and his accomplishments so I began my work by finding out whatever I could. What I found sent shivers up my spine.

God had answered me! I knew at once why I had been directed to this man and to this family run company. This was the vehicle that I had been searching for. At long last I was in a place where I could truly do something worthwhile with my life. I started to paint……... In the years that followed I did many paintings of family, specifically father and son. I also painted the last portrait of Karsten just before he passed away in February 2000. Karsten was a proponent of everything I admired in a man. He gave me a new path of hope.

For more on Karsten Solheim

http://www.pinggolf.com/innovation_karsten_tribute.html

John Solheim, the CEO of Karsten Manufacturing / PING is the true son of a great man. He has supported me in my quest to promote this work in the form of my final painting of Father and son entitled The significance of a moment. He has given permission to publish this first ever PING painting in the form of a limited edition print. This is, of all the paintings I made on this theme, the most poignant to me and as such, the only piece to date, that I have chosen to publish. I am honored to be involved with and have the support of this great Family and company. It is because of them that my dream will be realized at last.

With my sincerest wish that together we can make a difference.

Peter Fromme-Douglas