Participating in Port Aransas Art Center May Show
Tropical Port Aransas, Texas, has a thriving Art Center that defied Hurricane Harvey’s wrath. Invited to be one of 4 artists highlighted in Port Aransas Art Center’s May show gave me an opportunity to paint Texas’ tropical world.
With this quick tour of my paintings & glass in the Port Aransas Art Center’s May show, you’ll peek behind the scenes & learn how my unique artistic style emerged because of my meandering life.
‘Morning Walk’ H 48″ x W 36″ Oil
Palm trees and sand dunes have always lured me to try to expressed their fleeing tropical magic wherever I lived. Living in Georgia found me painting all along the eastern coast from Georgia to Florida. I find there’s nothing more soul freeing than wild breezes caressing my face & tangling my hair as I paint!
I know many of you are not aware that I was a painter for 35 years before glass’s seductive sparkle hooked me.
‘Summer Blessing’ H 48″ x W 36″ Oil
My Heart is in Color, Where is Yours?
Though I lived in tradition environments such as Poughkeepsie N.Y., East Lyme Connecticut, southern Augusta, Georgia, my heart was captured by the tropic vibes experienced while living in Florida. Living in Miami for 10 years instilled a vivid sense of color into my artwork forever.
Miami’s sunlight was pure, intense & demanded a high energy response from its surrounding! Studying batiking & basket weaving in Miami introduced me to strong, pure pigment color.
You’ll find this vibrant color energy the foundational essence in all my art.
‘Fish & Flowers’ H 30″ x W 22″
Challenges
I started oil painting at age 10 and by my 20s, I had become allergic to the painting chemicals, such as turpentine. I searched for years for other mediums that felt good to me as I used them. All forms of acrylics just felt too slick.
I truly believe the medium you use is an extension of your personal expression of your ‘artistic self ‘. And there is the perfect one for just for you. So, keep exploring until it feels like, Aahhh, you’ve home, when you use it!
‘A Journey to Travel lll’ H 30″ x W 22″ Casein has a chalky, lusciously velvet look that beckons your heart to pause & drink in!
My salvation was Casein.
I found Casein paint tubes on a back, dusty shelf of a 5 story Pearl art store, hidden & forgotten. No one knew how to use it. Talk about a life challenge!
The medium of Casein is pure pigment with milk and a binder. A precursor to acrylics, the old masters used it. Now fallen out of favor, with very little knowledge on it, I spent years exploring how to use the medium.
‘Sand Dune Stroll’ H 10″ x W 8″ Casein
Why I Teach
That is why I teach to delve into one’s life’s experiences for artistic guidance. You’ll find within every tiny thrill, every life struggle and life tug, roots to how you make your unique art. Casein changed my life!
Embracing everything as a gift, guides you on your path of uniqueness! The key is to follow your bliss to find your gifts!
‘ Windy Days’ H 15″ x W 30″ You’ll find Lingering abstract influences meld with Impressionism in all my paintings. Of course, there’s always rich color to soothe the soul!
My studies of American Impressionism at Lyme Academy and abstract in New York’s Silvermine School of Art expanded my horizons, allowing me to explore & discover different aspects of my core personality that affected my artist voice.
My Art Career Begins…
Finally, after a BFA, 4 years in private schools & 2 years developing my style, I started pursuing gallery representation. It became my full time job for 15 years. I sold 500 paintings in that 15 years, many large ones for corporations and hospitals. It seemed colorful, uplifting art was the perfect healing therapy for those environments.
‘Morning Beach Walk’ H 10 1/2″ x W 14 1/2″. Pastel is pure pigments, which has the same casein look. The texture has a powdery, sensual aliveness that draws you in to almost feel the sand between your toes. (Sorry about glass reflections.)
‘Cool Breezes’ H 24″ x W 30″. A new Oil paint using water allowed me to use oils again. I was able to create a similar velvety feel using Max oils and it also opened the door to larger paintings on canvas. Perfect for corporations.
‘Palm Shade’ H 16′ x W 12″ Oil
Painting was my world and my art sold to lovers of healing color energy and those passionate about the Tropics. About this time, I decided to go international with giclee prints so we tested the waters by doing the New York Art Expo. Finding an interest, we came home to plan our tactics.
Discovering Glass Lampwork
Unbelievably, I hadn’t discovered glass, yet. It wasn’t until I was 48 years old when it happen!
I had signed up for a fused glass workshop months eariler that cancelled at the last minute. I told the school to put me in anything. I just wanted to get away for a week. I was burnt out after doing the Art Expo for a week.
To be continued in with my glass pieces & the Port Aransas Art Center Show Opening… talk to you soon!
Fine art tropical glass fish necklace
If you are near Port Aransas in the month of May, I hope you come experience my paintings & glass lampwork art at Port Aransas Art Center.
Patsy :)
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