method to my madness
Artist Statement
In my work, I celebrate nature, looking past the obvious and conspicuous while focusing on nuances and small joys. I find simple compositions that lie within larger ones, manipulate light and strategize texture, using mainly nature’s palette. Creating an interesting, calm, contemplative respite for the viewer is my joy.
Hunting for different and extreme examples of nature is a sweet part of my process. Then, once I am in the studio, pouring over photographs, the creative side of me takes over and turns these canyons or clouds or trees or seas into color, form, shadow and texture, and I begin to arrange and rearrange until the composition is in a new order.
—Patricia Prescott Sueme, IAPS/MC, PSA
—
"A picture—
before being a warhorse, a nude woman, or some anecdote—
is essentially a surface covered with colours
arranged in a certain order."
— Fauvist painter, Maurice Denis
—
Then. circa 1967
a creative life
Patricia Prescott grew up drawing and painting, with a family lineage overflowing with artists and creative people. After two years studying Fine Art and English Literature at Pomona College, Claremont, she transferred to Art Center College of Design where she graduated with honors in 1985. In 2000, after years of a busy and fulfilling career as a graphic designer, Prescott finally returned to creating art from her soul and imagination and began to paint (oil on board) again.
Prescott’s first show at Lisa Coscino Gallery in Pacific Grove, California, sold out. For the next few years she participated in annual shows with the Gallery. Her style for which she became noted included use of her graphic eye along and an obsession for layering and subtleties of color. Her body of work is often comprised of pared down, idealized imagery with uncomplicated compositions. The subtle layering of color and further refinement of simple compositions and balance are what keep sending her back to the easel.
Gap years happened. Raising two boys and running a busy design studio took priority.
In 2016, after her youngest son started college, Patricia finally opened a vintage box of pastels she had inherited from her grandmother. This was the beginning of her new obsession with soft pastels. Pastel brings a new freedom that allows her to devote time to painting almost every day, experimenting with unusual tools and underpainting techniques with the ultimate goal of bringing a freshness and her own point of view to this exquisite old-world medium — the very same approach she took as an oil painter.
Today her thirst for joy, artistic knowledge and creative growth is stronger than ever. She shares this passion by sometimes teaching workshops and offering her techniques to her Instagram followers in the hopes that every artist will see the amazing versatility pastel offers.
Now-ish. circa 2023
“Based on the land and seas of California, Prescott’s pastel paintings can be best described as interpretive jewels of experiences in nature”.
— Lisa Coscino,
Curator, Museum Director, Gallery Owner
exhibitions & kudos
2023 Santa Paula Museum of Art Art About Agriculture Exhibition
2023-2024 Art Exhibition The Butler Institute of American Art,
Youngstown, Ohio (Invitation. The piece was committed to another exhibition)
2023 Santa Paula Museum of Art California Art League, The California Scene Exhibition
2023 Enduring Brilliance Exhibition, Pastel Society of America, International, Juried, National Arts Club, New York City, Jimmy Wright, Chair, Clairefontaine Pastelmat Award
2023, March, IAPS/MC Designation.
International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle designation
2023 42nd IAPS Art Exhibition, Award of Merit, (International Association of Pastel Societies) Open Division, Juror of awards Jacob Aguiar
2022-2023 Art Exhibition The Butler Institute of American Art,
Youngstown, Ohio (Invitation. The piece to be included sold prior)
2022 Enduring Brilliance Exhibition, Pastel Society of America, International, Juried, National Arts Club, New York City, Jimmy Wright, Chair, Edgar Degas Award for innovation in Pastel
2022 IAPS Online Exhibition, acceptance (International Association of Pastel Societies)
2022 Pratique des Arts Magazine Pastel Issue, Feature Article
2022 Summer Issue, Pastel Journal, Feature Article “Bright Ideas”, New Pastel Palette Design
2021 CAP “Reframing Nature” 4 artists exhibition, Community Art Project Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA,
2021 Work at Home Exhibition, Santa Paula Art Museum
2021 The 38th IAPS Exhibition, (International Association of Pastel Societies) Juror Jimmy Wright
2021 Summer Issue, Pastel Journal, Feature Article “Framed by Design”, 8 pages
2021 Enduring Brilliance Exhibition, Pastel Society of America, International, Juried, National Arts Club, New York City, Jimmy Wright, Chair
2021 April Issue Pastel Journal, 22nd Pastel 100 Competition, 1st Place, wildlife, Shallow Wishes, Juror Rita Kirkman
2020 NUMU New Museum of Los Gatos, Art in a Time of Corona Exhibition/Fundraiser, Curator Craig Krull
2020 Pastel Society of the West Coast Pastels USA, Juried exhibition, 1st place
2020 Santa Paula Museum of Art FIne Art Auction
2020 Laguna Beach City Hall Fine Art Exhibition, 2nd place, Calm Night Shore, Juror Francine Weiss, Senior Curator, Newport Art Museum of Rhode Island
2020 Pastel Society of New Mexico, National exhibition, 2 pieces juried in by Christine Ivers, Rita Kirkman & Teresa Saia2020 Connecticut Pastel Society Annual Renaissance juried Exhibition
2020 Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, International, Juried, National Arts Club, New York City, Jimmy Wright, Chair
2020 Art Matters, The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, Jurors Stephen Nowlin, , Seth Baker, Richard Rice (exhibition postponed until 2021)
2020 April Issue Pastel Journal, 21st Pastel 100 Competition, Honorable Mention, Night Seascape, Juror W. Truman Hosner
2020 April Issue Pastel Journal, 21st Pastel 100 Competition, Honorable Mention #2, Autumn Light, Juror W. Truman Hosner
2020 Artist Alliance Biennial, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA, Jurors Bob Pincus, Maria Maingalone
2019 “100 Grand” Group Show, Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA, Curator Susan Bush
2019 The 36th IAPS Juried Exhibition, (International Association of Pastel Societies) Dunedin Fine Arts Center, FL, Jurors Myles Johnston, Anna Wainright, Charles Peer
2019 Art and Agriculture, Santa Paula Art Museum, 2 pieces, Jurors Gail Pidduck, John Nichols
2019 Make Your Mark, International, PSSC, 2nd place, Juror Lyn Asselta
2019 Make Your Mark, International, Juried, PSSC, Ampersand Award
2019 Enduring Brilliance Exhibition, Pastel Society of America, International, Juried, National Arts Club, New York City, Jimmy Wright, Chair
2019 Autumn Impressions, California-wide, Juried, California Art Club, Muckenthaler Cultural Center
2019 The HeART of OC, Awarded Best of Show, Juror Barbara Thompson
2018 The HeART of OC, Awarded 3rd place, Jurors Jonathan Burke, Hope Railey
2006 - 2017 focus on family and graphic design business
A past life
2005 May, “Art Matters V” Barsac Brasserie, Los Angeles, CA
2002 May-June, “Spring Colors” Barsac Brasserie, Los Angeles, CA
2002 February, “Art from the Heart” Barsac Brasserie, Los Angeles, CA
2001 January-February 2001, “Common Ground” Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA
2001 August-September, “One Year, A Million Thanks” Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA
2001 October, “Art Matters” Barsac Brasserie, Los Angeles, CA
2001 December, “Small Packages II” Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA
2000 December 2000, “Small Packages” Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA