Writings - Patrick Gallery - Working Artist Studio | Painting

Writings, Articles, Announcements, and . . .

Patrick writes a montly Art column in The Cambrian, the local newspaper. Here's some of his past articles, as well as articles about him and articles of general interest.

Inspired by DaVinci and Rodin, Cambrian artist's works are 'meaningful and lovely'

07/10/2018

To be able to capture anyone’s attention long enough to excite and provoke a contemplative response to art during our Digital (Overload) Age is nearly a miracle that even Michaelangelo himself would struggle to pull off. We are constantly bombarded with images and solicitations for our attention and affection. “You might also be interested in…" has become an insidious ploy that was unknown even 10 years ago. Social and cultural references have been reduced to soundbites and legislative
Los Osos artist plays with fire to create encaustic art

03/06/2018

I’m pretty sure anyone who utters the phrase, “she’s playing with fire,” does so with derogatory intent or, at the very least, with a caveat. But there is a very legitimate and appropriate use, too. It’s called being an encaustic artist. I’ve long been fascinated with this technique and am the proud owner of two fine encaustic panels done by an Egyptian artist that I will keep forever. The vitality of wax, pigment and graphite incorporated in those pieces is as evocative today as when they were
There’s often something unexpected behind an artist’s work

01/10/2018

There is way too much importance placed on the end of one year and the beginning of the next. The unnatural and universally embraced pressure to wrap things up nice and tidy by the end of the year is unrealistic because life is messier than my dog after the rain and nearly as stinky. Even New Year’s Eve celebrations with well-intended opportunities to drink, dance and reminisce usually wind up with some sort of Mariah Carey mishap or at least a vaguely guilty conscience and upset stomach. New
Edward Walton Wilcox creates parables in Paso

12/12/2017

It is infrequent at best, unlikely at least to be introduced to a legend in the making. Recently I had the good fortune of being introduced to an indelible character who is on this path. Edward Walton Wilcox is the proverbial “triple threat” artist. Edward works with unconventional materials in painting, drawing and sculptural mediums. When previewing his website (www.edwardwaltonwilcox.com), I was initially distracted by some of his more controversial works that echoed the “poke of the finger
Art’s role during crisis isn’t just colorful, it’s cathartic

09/12/2017

My mother gave me an article from National Geographic about the recent extreme solar flares that scientists have speculated are causing more than extreme weather changes. The article suggests that this cosmic episode may have an effect on temperament, bio-clocks and health. It goes so far to say that certain people may become more forgetful, despondent, or prone to hair-trigger reactions during this solar effect. Of course I assumed that my mother was using this article from a reputable source
Artist Tom Gould gives us ‘what we want to believe’

08/09/2017

To the extent that I ever contemplate using the word recovery, it is usually in response to a pesky client or commission and is addressed with a self-prescribed remedy of “boring book plus nap.” My view of recovery might be somewhat narrower than most because I have an annoying reserve of energy that allows me to bound about like a puppy drinking Diet Coke and never slow down until it’s dark (which I do, to the delight of my very few patient friends because after all, the village slogan where I
Plane ride gives Tinglof perspective on her artwork

07/12/2017

Sometimes it takes a ride in a plane to get one’s perspective. It helps if your dad is flying it. That happened to Glynis C. Tinglof, a successful painter living in Los Osos. Many years ago, she was under pressure to produce paintings for an exhibit in Menlo Park and felt stuck and under pressure. She tried to back out but couldn’t. Then she happened upon an aerial photograph. The photo triggered a strong memory of seeing Earth from her father’s plane, and her artistic brain began the
Luxury not a prerequisite for elegance in artwork

06/06/2017

It’s both hard and surprisingly easy coming home after being exposed to unfettered luxury. The hard part is that I was adapting very quickly to the ostentatious consumerism, hyper-stylized living, million-dollar cars, exotic haircuts and dark glasses that cost more than my rent. Even the ripped jeans in Gucci’s windows started looking perfectly normal, leaving me to wonder if maybe there is a subversive little undercurrent of Norman Bates hiding in those designers who may be urging our easily
Uncommon scents add fine sensation to artwork

05/10/2017

I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannot live without the sense of smell. I never really thought much about my own particular sense of smell except when my dog has “stomach issues,” or I sniff test a shirt to see if it’s safe to wear in polite company. In fact, I now believe that if I could not smell the sea air, my mind would go blank and I would lack for images to paint, and then I would starve to death. When Harmony Café chef Giovanni Grillenzoni decided to launch “Dinner & A Movie” at his