San Francisco

“Art has the ability to heal. I can attest to its power in my life. When illness has crashed all around me, my art has given me the fortitude to persevere.”

Peter Perrino is a fine art abstract photographer and former fashion designer who had his own line of clothing from 1992-1996. He’s lived in San Francisco since 1985. He turned to art when it became clear that he would have to forego his chosen profession of law. His clinical depression made concentration at an academic level impossible. He found that he could concentrate on art, and his creativity thrived.

Peter began to dabble in film photography in 1995. He then began to pursue an interest in digital photography in 2013 after he stopped designing custom clothes for clients. In 2015, he had a creative hunch that he could produce something unique. He wanted to create fine art photography, just as he could create fine art with his fashion design.

He began to experiment with slow shutter speeds, f-stops, camera movements, and inventive post-processing techniques. The results exceeded expectations. His fine art abstract style was born along with a new business. He discovered that if he slowed down the world to a certain point through his camera, he could create a “new dimension.” He likens it to the metaphorical “Twilight Zone” from the 1960’s TV show.

“My photography has become a true passion. I feel grateful when I can get out for a few hours to shoot.” When he returns to his computer, he’s often surprised that he has no idea what a significant percentage of the images are from the day’s shoot. This, in turn, fuels his creative interest to shoot more. “I never know what my camera will capture given my technique, and I never know what will ultimately become a fine art print until I perform seven to ten hours of post-processing work.”

Peter is proud to be a member of the ArtLifting community and believes wholly in its mission. Peter is also an active member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Each month you can find him in San Francisco serving as a co-moderator of the support group for adults with children and loved ones who suffer from mental illness. His lifelong battle with clinical depression has been helpful in counseling others who come to the group seeking answers to some of life’s most tragic psychiatric disorders.