Stockwell artists: Peter Schmidt

An occasional series of posts on Stockwell artists, past and present.

First up is Peter Schmidt (1931-1980), painter, artist, teacher and composition and colour theorist. Schmidt was suggested as an interesting person to feature by commenter Ulysses, who brought him to my attention earlier this week.

Work by Peter Schmidt has been collected by the Tate (who have two of his prints, both called Flowing in the Right Direction). Five works are in the UK Government Art Collection.

With his student and later friend Brian Eno, Schmidt developed a process of using phrases and axioms to overcome artistic obstacles. They evolved the Oblique Strategies - a set of cards with printed aphorisms on them. They were intended to help steer the minds of Schmidt and Eno, which tended to wander when under pressure, back to productive ways of thinking.

Schmidt's work was used in Eno's LP covers such as Before and After Science and Tiger Mountain and Evening Star.

The Peter Schmidt blog has a photo of him at work in his studio in Stockwell (taken 1976). An article in Melody Maker mentions him being in Stockwell.

Peter Schmidt web is devoted to preserving his memory and promoting his body of work, and is the best place to view his intriguing figurative, landscape and abstract work.

Schmidt died suddenly while on holiday in the Canaries.

Your memories or knowledge of Schmidt and his intriguing style and philosophy are most welcome. Leave a comment on this post.