Celebrating over 35 years as a visual artist, Pat Cross recieved her first classical training at age 15 through master Hank Keiling at the University of Charleston. Over the decades, she continued her training in studios throughout the United States with renown artists Jack Jolly, Lance Hunter, Bob Rhom and Kim English. Others supporting her creative endeavors include family, friends, patrons, galleries, peers and organizations. For example, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded Pat Cross a Professional Artist Grant to attend the Portrait Society of America National Conference in Washington DC. In 2022, Pat Cross completed a series of 30 original artworks via an NEA and WVDCH Arts Grant Award focused on the healing impact of living within access to the inviting outdoors. In 2023, the VMRC invited Pat Cross to judge the National Juried Art Exhibit. Collectors of her originals and prints reside in various geographical areas including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and Asia.
Statement
I create paintings and drawings that offer my viewers the refreshment that I experience when exploring natural waterways, gardens, landscapes, and the human form. With all of my senses engaged, I walk, hike or paddle the remote geographies of the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain States, Deep South, and Appalachian regions. Or, just for kicks, I’ll extract the most from wherever I am at the time for material – such as my own back yard. I'm highly attracted to strong design, rich texture, anatomical structure, color relationships, and fine draftsmanship. So, I aim to incorporate these into my own work.
All artwork images legally belong to Pat Cross and are protected by federal copyright laws.