Jurors selected Pat Cross Art into Best of West Virginia, the annual exhibit at the David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery in Tamarack. One of the region’s most competitive fine art shows, Tamarack’s Best of West Virginia collects “la crème de la crème” of visual artists, sculptors, glass blowers and wood turners living in the Mountain State.
The artwork by Pat Cross selected to exhibit is a framed original oil painting entitled Emerald Path. “In this piece, I give the viewer the sensation of paddling the mountain lake from a kayak's point of view,” says Pat Cross. Inlets and tributaries provide pathways that invite the eye to explore from a perspective missed when traveling afoot around the perimeter of a lake.
In this painting, Pat Cross shows the effect of evening sun raking across the surface of the clear mountain lake where the sunlit areas glimmer a light emerald green, yet areas in the shadows deepen into a sapphire blue. “I chose to use an oil painting technique called glazing on this one because of the way oils refract the light and convey luminance to the eye,” says Pat Cross. “It’s the translucency of the oils that does this. Then, when layering the oils, the effect is similar to stacking layers of glass,” Pat Cross explains, adding, “It’s a visual thrill that’s fun to share.” The inspiration for this and all of Pat’s landscape paintings derive from hiking and paddling excursions in some of the most striking North American wilderness areas. “I paint so that others can invite the outdoors in,” says Pat Cross.
The original painting Emerald Path by Pat Cross can be viewed and purchased at the David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery at One Tamarack Park, Beckley, WV 25081. To learn more about the Gallery and schedule of fine art exhibits, visit www.tamarackwv.com.
To contact the artist Pat Cross about her oil paintings and fine art prints, reach out to https://patcrossart.com/pages/contact .