Peggy joined the Arlington Artists' Association, "on the spot," after viewing the AAA art show at Fort Smith Park in 2008.  She and her husband Chris Rutten  recently moved to Arlington after living in Bermuda for nine years.  Peggy's father, Bob, is a retired professional photographer who also has been an avid and talented painter from the age of 12, moving to oil painting at the age of 20.  Her mother, Marjorie, also artistic and an avid painter of ceramics hooked her on that craft, which she still loves to do. Both parents encouraged and cajoled her to try her hand at painting on canvas. 

During Chris and Peggy's first year in Bermuda, her folks visited from their home in Colorado.  With them they brought her father's old easel, purchased right after they married, and a starter kit of oil paints.  After a few lessons from Bob, and encouragement from Chris and Marge, Peggy was hooked.  She didn't enjoy painting with oils in the very humid climate of Bermuda, because they took too long to dry.  She switched to acrylics and that is the medium she's most happy working with, although she does like to experiment with water soluble oils and oil pastels.  Unable to draw and not having a formal art education, she applies her gift for translating color into abstract images.