About the Artist
Patricia Van West is a freelance writer with over 100 publications including a children's book, The Crab Man (Turtle Books). She started taking art classes in hope of illustrating her next children's book. Instead, she made a unique discovery which led to a successful art career.
After taking her first art class, Patricia wondered if she would be forever doomed to write about stick people. She tried painting seascapes while vacationing in Florida but they were stiff and lifeless. One day while walking on the beach, she saw a mound of sea foam sitting on the shoreline. She scooped up a handful and stared at it. It stared back. She ran to her rented apartment and grabbed a big pot. She ran back to the foam and gently lifted it into the pot. Then she ran back to her apartment and painted. Little did she know sea foam would revolutionize her art and all that running back and forth would turn into an effective weight loss program.
Patricia's paintings are a mix of watercolor and sea foam. She uses her hands to lay the foam into the paint and move it about. Sea shell imprints add texture and pattern. After the painting is covered with bubbles and her fingernails are stained ocean blue or sunset red, she sets it aside to dry. Later, she brushes off the sand, salt and organic residue. Underneath she has captured the sea--foam imprints and sand colored stains combined with effervescent paint.
Patricia's work is popular among snowbirds wintering along the Gulf Coast as well as permanent seaside residents who want to hang a piece of the ocean on their walls. She is currently represented by several Florida galleries.
Sea Oats Gallery,
St. George Island, FL 850.927.2303 http://www.forgottencoastart.com/
Gallery Above
Bay Artique Gallery,
Port St. Joe, FL 850.229.7191