Hi Evan.
Jo gave me your painting of me the other day.
You are very talented, thank you.
Jeff Skoll
Founder of Skoll Foundation/President of Ebay

Unfortunately for you, this is it. This is the closest you’ll get to Lola (unless you happen to be in London, in which case…) so I’ll do my best to convey the impact she has. Lola’s presence in my bedroom sets a mood. A sexy, sultry, Siren of a mood. Objectively she’s a finely executed use of colour. Subjectively she’s breathtakingly beautiful. The tilt of her head, the lift of her chin, the slightly parted lips, all perfect. Lola has insinuated herself into the creases in my life. Even now I can’t take my eyes from her. Objectively I know she’s a wonderful oil painting. Subjectively, I’m delighted that for a large part of my life Lola will be the last thing I see at night. I think that I’ve finally done something that my as-yet-unborn children will be happy about.

Lola represents not exactly the new me, but the old me with some new bits added. I haven’t opted for gender transformation, but a transformation of another sort, and that’s where Lola comes in. Now it could just be coincidence that my ex-wife’s name is also four letters beginning with ‘L’ or it might be part of a deeper plan. Either way it all started back in February when I hit on Evan’s girlfriend at a gallery opening in LA. Luckily for Evan he is taller, younger and better-looking than me, or this is where our story would have come to the sort of conclusion over which a veil is usually hastily drawn. You see I was in LA to rediscover my mojo, and my interest in art was a mere device to ask beautiful women their opinions, before genteelly proceeding onto much more personal questions. I never did see the “one piece” that Evan had on display in a gallery a short walk away that night, but I did wonder…

Until April in Las Vegas when I first saw Lola. I was smitten, and usually I let the gentlemen keep their blonds, preferring as I do girls with midnight blue hair. That such a wonderful creation was the product of a man met by random choice only adds to the delight that Lola inspires within me. I spoke to a plethora of pretty girls that weekend in Vegas, but Lola was the only one I wanted in my bedroom. Please accept my humble apologies, but I fear that to do her justice, the next paragraph may strike some as rather pretentious.

Lola’s sultry gaze challenges me to challenge the world. Her beauty is a reminder and an inspiration. Lola’s enchantment touches the women in my life. She is a marker for a new chapter in my story, and she draws me further in each time. Lola knows what happens next.

M. Levy

When the I decided to have a painting of my family created, I carefully considered the various painters I knew personally, as well as those whose work I knew of through magazines and galleries. Having relationships with painters from New York City and Santa Fe meant that my options were numerous and the painters highly skilled. I chose Evan Peelle for several reasons: for his startling fluency and depth of knowledge in drawing and oil painting, his enthusiasm and vitality for life, and his never-ending investigations into the meaning and value of creative work. I know him personally and well and can attest to his devotion to art, to oil painting, and to his will to be continually open to new insights, new methods, and new means of expression within his chosen life’s work. Certainly Evan is in it for the long run, and has the strength of character, the talent, and the creative impulse to emerge as a dominant painter of his generation. I myself am genuinely thrilled with the painting he created for me, and I look forward to buying more of his work as it becomes available over the coming years.

JM

I’ve had the great opportunity to know Evan for the past year and am continually impressed by him.  At first meeting, I was impressed by his substance, composure, and intelligence, particularly given his young age.  He exuded the qualities of a great sense of humor, a sharp wit, and a strong passion about his work the first time I met him, and these qualities have only gotten more pronounced the more I have gotten to know him as a friend and peer.  In my opinion, Evan is a very sensitive, charismatic, and unique individual, and his art serves as an outlet for those qualities.  To me, he represents everything a modern artist should be:  passionate, sensitive, observant of the world around him, and hopeful that his work will bring about the same positive reaction in others as it does in him.

Not unexpected, my experience with Evan’s art has been similarly enjoyable.  The first time I saw the work, I was intrigued given its striking subject matter, substantial size, and true craftsmanship.  It’s hard imagine my feelings are not shared by most others as they enter a room and see a huge painting of a strikingly beautiful woman on the wall.  Evan’s paintings are expressive pieces of art, and they are meant to provoke the viewer.  This has exactly been my experience when people see the painting in my home.  Everyone immediately seizes on it when he or she enters a room and has an immediate reaction, most often of which are “wow”, “cool”, or “that’s hot”.  The painting also provokes discussion, and I’ve many times had great conversations and other memorable moments that were borne directly from looking at and remarking about the painting.

What other’s think aside, the painting makes me smile every time I come through the door after work, helps me to unwind after a long day, and inspires me before I leave the house to go out into the jungles of Hollywood.  That reason and that reason alone is why it’s special to me.

Sincerely,

Tedd Cittadine
Director of Business Development
20th Century Fox Movie Studios

Tedd, Evan and friends out celebrating.

Collector Jack(The Captain) Kolodny out with Evan

Evan Peelle with Entrepreneur Eben Pagan

i went to a contemporary art museum yesterday, it was SO awesome. i really loved seeing the art - the intricacies, the precision…. was incredible, definitely need to get into art more. im going to take art classes once i settle somewhere. one piece moved me to tears, it was SO incredible ( a man reading a bible, you could just feel his passion)…. art is so powerful. seriously couldve camped out there all day

Evan:  We received the portrait and LOVE it.  I want to take the time to send a really ebullient letter for your file.  Sorry it has taken me a while.  I will work on it this weekend.