The artistic veteran

TILTON — “The lesson is to keep doing something,” said Stanley Piper, World War II-era Army veteran and local artist.

Throughout his, thus far, 96 years of life, Piper has lived up to that philosophy. From childhood years spent in an orphanage to working as a printer and raising two children, hardships fueled his drive to create art.

Over the years, he’s explored many forms of creativity: sculpting, painting, drawing, acting, singing, and carving wood. Now, in his residence at the New Hampshire Veteran’s Home in Tilton, Piper continues to create.

“I was born in 1927, and I grew up in Keene, but later I was placed in the Daniel Webster Family Home (orphanage) in Franklin from age 5-to-13 when my mother needed help supporting me and my siblings,” said Piper.

Times were tough and it was not uncommon for children to be placed in an orphanage when a family faced hardships. Piper and one of his sisters spent some years at the orphanage and he said it was a good place.

Once he got older, Piper experienced the hardships of World War II. When things were difficult, making artwork helped him through and creative pursuits offered an escape. Wanting to serve his country, Piper enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 — around his 18th birthday. Piper served in transportation and found himself working on a ship.

“I saved the ship,” he said. “I was on watch and we were experiencing high waves. I noticed the ship’s ropes weren’t tied correctly and it would have sunk the ship. I pointed it out and re-tied the ropes.”

After his service, Piper lived in Rochester for many years and later moved to Keene. He found working in the print industry to his liking and he was good at it. Piper worked as an offset printer for an insurance company in Keene and then at the Somersworth Free Press. Later he moved with his two children, a son and a daughter, to Laconia where he worked at Tyler Press.

As a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Laconia-Gilford, Piper found a way to share his art and in particular his love of sculpture with other parishioners. He was commissioned for a major project — probably his most ambitious — a large scale 3-D bas-relief of a religious scene. The finished work graces the span of one wall at the church.

“I always liked to work in clay because it’s easy to cast,” he said.

Another one of Piper’s sculptures can be found at the chapel in Concord Hospital Laconia, bringing enjoyment and a sense of serenity to many to those seeking comfort.

The commission was a work of love, showing Piper’s dedication to his church community and the desire to leave a memorable and wonderful creation for others to enjoy.

Since retiring and eventually becoming a resident at the Veteran’s Home, Piper immersed himself in art. In his bright and sunny room at the home, he has a perfect artist’s set-up with a large table in front of a window where he can observe the trees, birds and the changing seasons. His large-scale drawings grace the walls of his room and he points out favorites of a train as well as many New Hampshire landscapes.

Although largely self-taught as an artist, Piper found the time to take art classes at Plymouth State University and speaks fondly of working with one particular art instructor, professor and chair of the art department, Robert Morton. Together, Piper and Morton carved in wood a large piece depicting a Native American man and his wife.

“We each started at opposite ends, carving in the wood and we met in the middle,” he said

Expressing himself creatively has taken many turns for Piper. He also has performed in a variety of roles and built sets for the local Streetcar Company theatre group. Old photos in his room at the Veteran’s Home are like a glimpse into the life of a movie star, with Piper posing in scenes from the plays in a variety of characters. He also enjoys singing at the memorial services held at the Veteran’s Home. One song in particular, “Amazing Grace,” is a favorite.

The Veteran’s Home organizes and shows an exhibit each November before it travels to other Lakes Region galleries. It frequently includes pieces of Piper’s work.

While creating art is slowing down somewhat for Piper, he still has an eye for all things beautiful and finds inspiration around him. Additionally, he tries to keep his mind sharp by filling out daily word puzzles, often seated by the large window in his room.

Whether working on a detailed pencil drawing of a New Hampshire scene — such as a serene forest viewed from a mountain top or the scenic Mt. Washington Hotel — or any other subject that takes Piper’s fancy, he continues to embrace his art and share it with others.

“When you draw, you have to concentrate. You can let everything else out of your mind,” he said. “There are no age limits when it comes to making art.”