Driving along Rowland Street, I come to a sudden halt, as a work of art catches my eye. It is not a sculpture or a stained glass window, but a house singular in its own way covered with adornment and style. I knew behind those four walls lived a creative mind, who knew the necessity of art within life, the beauty it creates, and the comfort it bestows. Behind that art appears smiling, welcoming Peggy Hepburn. An artist at heart, in mind, and body, Peggy Hepburn, owner of Somersworth's Peggy's Palette surrounds herself and her life with her incredible talent. "Art is in everything from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive to the food we eat," said Hepburn, whose business offers art classes and commissioned work from murals to portraits to decorative paintings.

Hepburn moved to Somersworth from Michigan, newly married and ready to explore life. Young, ambitious, and just starting out, she and her husband wanted something new and adventurous, thus bringing them east to a community beyond theirs in Michigan. Only 19 years old, Hepburn explored many options of being artistic, trying to get her work out there, but unfortunately failed, never finding the right avenue for her art. "It was hard because we moved to a place where we didn't know anyone and we didn't have much money because we were just starting out," said Hepburn. She ultimately became frustrated and angry, hiding her art away. Yet, over the years it began to seep out through decorating and designing costumes for her children. Not until 10 years later and through her daughter, she finally found a niche for her art in New Hampshire.

After a traumatic experience in her life, she started drawing again. It became an outlet for her, a time she could sit down, absorb herself, and not think about the thing that was so painful. Her young daughter began to sit down alongside her, following in her ways. Proud of her mother, she went to school telling her teacher that her mother could draw. Through her teacher's insistence, Hepburn was brought to the Somersworth School District and to her calling of teaching others art. She started out small, first going to classes at Maplewood to draw with students, then to organizing school wide projects, such as the 15 by 11 foot paper mache, "Maple Whale," that went on to be displayed at the Saco Aquarium, then to teacher workshops, and finally to her present day art classes in her own studio. Going into schools, Hepburn was glad to bring art back into children's eyes. "Nowadays in schools I feel that expectations are high and students aren't allowed to make mistakes, wanting that finished product in short amount of time," Hepburn said passionately. "Part of art is creating a feeling and learning through mistakes, while also finding different ways to create and problem solve. It is important to instill art because it's in every subject from writing to science diagrams to mathematical grids."Wishing to gear her knowledge and work to others who want to excel and focus on their artwork, Hepburn resolved to open her home to teaching others about art. It was the parents from Somersworth schools who first called her, wanting their children personally taught more about art and enhancing the gift they saw already instilled in their children with someone who was willing to work with them one-on-one.

Her classes have grown over the years from only four students to about 50 per week. She teaches all ages from first graders to senior citizens. "Art is forever," Hepburn said. "It doesn't have an age limit on it, no breaking bones, no physical wear of body. You can always sit down with a pencil or paint." Hepburn's work additionally expanded to commissioned artwork, going into peoples' homes to give them their desired image of art from murals in bedrooms to family portraits.

The wonderful essence of Hepburn is her versatility. She's not just a painter or a sculptor or a muralist, but all of them rolled into one. Following her mood, she reaches out, trying new art forms from greeting cards inspired by her own poetry to photography to mosaics to decorating local shops. Most of her students and clients come not from advertisers, but from word of mouth alone all around the seacoast area. She and her work are trusted to be beyond satisfactory. Eclectic, passionate, and talented, Hepburn brings the joy of art into the community, showing people that art is everywhere, achievable in any hands, and created in endless forms. "Why do just watercolor, when you can do oil, too," said Hepburn with a smile.

Visit http://www.peggyspalette.com/ for more details.