Peterson offers the portrait of a compassionate man

The inspiration was a photograph.

Painting is the continuation of a childhood passion, but has evolved into more than creating an image. It has created ways for people to understand others.

--

Peterson and teammate Anthony Egbuniwe were hanging out in March. The start of spring practice was a few days away. Dinner and a club were on the agenda.

Riding shotgun, Peterson spotted a group of men standing on the corner of Peachtree and Pine streets. Near the group was a sign advertising free studio space in the nearby building.

They pulled over and the friends began walking around the first floor of the building. Paintings in various stages and styles --  an oil depiction of Bob Marley, an acrylic of two little boys, unknown figures, impressions -- hanged from the walls. More were stacked in corners, on desks, or leaning against walls.

Peterson, an art enthusiast with a creative mind, was dumbfounded. How did he not know this studio was just a few blocks from Bobby Dodd Stadium?

He began taking photos and asking as many questions as there were colors on a palette.

"I saw the artists. I saw the creativity," Peterson said. "It was everything I wanted to do."

He asked the corner group how he could get one of the advertised spots.

They pointed to the small woman inside. "Go ask Miss Anita," one said.

Anita Beaty, a short woman with gray hair and a mother's patience in her voice, told him he needed to do two things: fill out an application and bring in some of his work.

Then the group of artists, some of whom lived in the building, would decide if they would allow him into their community: the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless.

Most of the art Peterson had admired was created by homeless residents living in Atlanta.

--

Peterson loved the "Goosebumps" series of books when he was younger. He would constantly ask his mom, Marlene, or dad, Pete, to buy the next one.

They were impressed that their 6-year-old was reading them one after the other. However, he wasn't reading them.

"He was drawing the covers," Pete Peterson said. "I think he was drawing before he started writing."

Marlene Peterson has kept them in a binder at their home in Tampa. They all have his art. Some are at home, others are framed and hanging in a condo they own in Atlanta.

Peterson's father describes himself as a left-brain, numbers guy. Peterson's talent comes from his mother. Her grandmother, Audrey Whitlock, was a famous artist, musician and playwright in the Roanoke, Va., area. Her paintings, featuring what Peterson said are "lots of colors," not only hang in his parents' home, but were also featured in a museum in the city.

Peterson tried different mediums, but found he liked colored pencils most.

His mother has a framed sketch hanging in her office that he drew from a photograph. In the scene, he is sitting in the chapel at his high school, reading the Bible. A stained glass window is in front of him. The serenity is palpable.

"It encourages me that my son is seeking wisdom," she said.

--

Peterson told Egbuniwe that he wasn't going out that March night. He asked Egbuniwe to take him back to Tech. Driven by inspiration, he filled out the application and began to teach himself how to paint that weekend.

He went back to the Task Force with his application and examples of his drawings. He was accepted but didn't take over the space until spring football practice was over. He picked a good time.

Mario Robinson, a nationally known figure painter, was visiting the shelter. Peterson found a mentor. When he wasn't in class or conditioning, Peterson was at the studio, studying Robinson's technique and learning how to paint.

"[The] main thing I would learn is slower is better, and too much detail isn’t always good," he said. "Work slowly, work in layers, bring life to your pictures."

After Robinson left, Peterson studied the work of other artists. They studied his. The first ones, an acrylic of a baby, for example, didn't have the depth of the Nesbitt painting.

The artists taught him how to use colors and shading. The more images he created, the more he saw the similarities between painting and football.

"Everyone has their own sense of unique style and unique playing style," Peterson said. "If you watch film and you've got five corners, if they didn't have their jersey number on, you could recognize them by their style of play.

"That's what I'm still discovering. I'm still trying to discover what makes me unique."

--

The more time Peterson spent at the studio the more he enjoyed the company of his new acquaintances.

Peterson always has been active in the community, working hundreds of hours with various groups in Tampa while he was in high school.

Like artists, Peterson said the homeless are often misunderstood. Many living at the shelter have jobs and try to save enough to start life anew.

"There are different situations," he said. "Foreclosures. Some come from jail. The people there, they aren't on drugs. The ones I've interacted with, I consider them friends."

Peterson is among artists who hold Monday meetings to discuss how to help the studio better achieve its purpose. Beaty, the task force's executive director,said this "is to find what makes your heart sing."

The shelter will soon start a garden on the roof to help it become self-sustaining. Beaty said the shelter takes a patient approach to helping its residents.

With one exception: Residents are now big fans of Georgia Tech, watching every game and cheering for Peterson.

"They watch the games, they talk smack to me," Peterson said. "It's like I've brought a new energy to the place."

Peterson's parents have visited the shelter and met his new friends and seen where he's been working and thriving.

"I can't put into words how I feel," Marlene Peterson said. "It's what I think every mother would want -- their child to be compassionate with the less fortunate. At the same time, it's a place that he loves. It's a place where he thrives. He's passionate about them and the art."

--

The Nesbitt painting isn't done. The white jersey needs more details. Peterson has worked on it for 30 hours and estimates 20 more are needed.

He hasn't decided what he will do with it once it's done. He might give it to Nesbitt. He might keep it. It will be the first painting he has finished.

He wants to surprise Paul Johnson with his next project, maybe do something of the Tech coach.

Peterson said it would be nice to make a living out of painting, perhaps doing commissioned works of NFL players. If that doesn't happen, he's a management major with hopes of one day combining his business sense with his love of art into a job as a gallery manager.

"As a kid you dream about playing NFL football," Peterson said. "As a kid, I just painted, did art all the time. They are both dreams."