Little Oscar, At the Edge of the Wild

Now that this large portrait of a small boy is finally finished, it is time to tell its story.

Seven years ago, my grandson, Oscar, was visiting here in Maine. Not quite two years old, and very active, he was for a short while on this particular day, agreeable to sitting for some photographs. I was taking the photos for the purpose of drawing a portrait, and was happy with the assortment I got, especially the ones where he was sitting on the big rock in my back yard. There was something about the images that kept calling me back to look at them again and again.

When I say "again and again", I really mean it. This what happened, repeatedly, over several years:
1. I would see the images in my file of reference photos.
2. I would be compelled to begin the portrait project.
3. I would think about the dimensions necessary to convey the feeling I wanted to evoke. 4. I would decide to begin it at a later date.

O.K. I am leaving out some important stuff in that description. What really was happening was this:
1. I would see the images and immediately be hit (hard!) in the gut with... what? Love? Longing? Whatever it was, it was powerful.
2. I would be excited, with butterflies in my stomach, to get started.
3. I would be afraid and nauseous, doubting my ability to actually accomplish what my mind's eye and my heart  could see so clearly.
4. I would relieve all of the aforementioned symptoms by keeping the project in the "later" category.

I had almost decided that too much time had passed, and it would be silly to do a portrait of a toddler when Oscar is really such a big guy now. I told myself that I had missed my chance to complete it in a timely fashion, as if there was a statute of limitations on such things. Little debates on the matter were happening in obscure back corners of my brain. It finally hit me that I needed to do this.

So, last February, I ordered my 24 x 36 inch Pastelbord, and took the plunge. Seven months later, Little Oscar, At the Edge of the Wild, is complete. During the process, I experienced many bouts of gut-wrenching love, longing, butterflies, and nausea, among other maladies. I'm sure there will be remnants of all of these as the work is exhibited for the first time, next Tuesday at the opening reception of my show in Portsmouth.

(24x36", colored pencil on Pastelbord, acrylic varnish)

82nd Annual Juried Exhibition of the Hudson Valley Art Association in NYC

As I prepare for the solo show in Portsmouth, I'm also getting ready to ship this piece, Window Sash Still Life, to NYC. I'm excited to have my work chosen to be part of the 82nd Annual Juried Exhibition of the Hudson Valley Art Association. The show will be at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Ave, from September 20th through the 26th. The reception is Friday, September 26, from 5-8 (a bit unusual, being the last night of the show).

I am so looking forward to being there! Little did I know, while working on this drawing, that it would lead to a weekend in New York with my husband and some wonderful friends!

Upcoming Solo Show

I am happy to announce that I have a solo show next month, entitled Life and Color, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The fact that the show will be hung in just over two weeks' time makes this piece's "work in progress" status somewhat nerve-wracking. Posting it here is my way of adding a bit more pressure on myself to have it finished, varnished, and framed in time for hanging! I am excited about showing it as a newly finished piece. It will be the largest in the show, at 24 by 36 inches. Here are the show details.

The Gateway Gallery at Great Bay Community College

New England artist Elizabeth Patterson​

September 16^th - November 15^​th

The Gateway Gallery at Great Bay Community College is honored to feature the work of New England artist Elizabeth Patterson from September 16-November 15, 2014 in a show entitled, Life and Color.  Her work has been widely acclaimed and featured in exhibitions across the country as well as in books and magazines.  She grew up in Burlington, Massachusetts and attended Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Southern Maine.  The colored pencil drawings of Elizabeth Patterson are richly and lovingly rendered, with layer upon layer of color, to create finished works that are often mistaken for oil paintings. This collection includes still lives and portraits in glowing hues; the subjects brightly lit by the sun, and the cast shadows becoming important parts of each composition.

Please join us for an opening reception on September 16, 5-7 PM.

The gallery is located in the atrium entrance of Great Bay Community College and is open during regular college operating hours. Please sign the guest book when you come and visit.

More Info

Information on each artist and their work can be found in the gallery.

For more information on the exhibit or the reception contact Annette Cohen at (603) 427-7665 oracohen@ccsnh.edu    All visitors to the Gallery are encouraged to sign the guest book. The Gallery is open during regular college hours and is free to the public.​

Pomegranate & Lemons - Work In Progress

Here is a little still life I have been working on. I started it while awaiting delivery of a large sheet of Pastelbord for my next project. It's not even close to being done. I suppose I thought I could finish it quickly because it's only 12x9 inches, and it seemed like a pretty simple, straightforward composition. I really liked how clean and bright all of the objects looked, bathed in the winter sun, and the way the pomegranate seeds glistened like the glass bowl. (Well, they don't glisten in my drawing yet... but they will.)

So, now I have my new sheet of Pastelbord. It is larger by far than any others I have used for my colored pencil drawings. Actually, I think it's the biggest one the Ampersand company makes... 24x36 inches. It will be like doing this 9x12 one, eight times. An adventure!