Pat Carney

Biography

Being good at what I do has always been very important to me.  My family instilled in me an ethic of disciplined work.  In my early years, I used my natural ability to explore fine arts and my efforts were rewarded with a Fine Arts scholarship to allow me to attend college.  Attracted to the teaching profession, I was influenced by a group of energetic educators who believed that practicing artists made the best teachers of art.  This ideal encouraged me to continue my education in fine arts leading to an M.A. degree as I began teaching in the largest school district in Colorado.  While I was active in producing and showing my own art, my students were winning district, state, and national awards.

Not entirely satisfied that I had developed the full range of my abilities after ten years of teaching art, I pursued the study and teaching of history.  My belief that the best teachers also practice their discipline motivated me to secure a Ph.D. in European History.  My efforts led to tangible rewards for my students, who scored the highest marks on national assessments.

After a teaching career of almost thirty years, I recently retired to put my energy once again into art.  My husband (a photographer) and I have been lucky enough to be able to travel to many fascinating places (Antarctica, the Galapagos, Madagascar) that provide marvelous source material for our artwork.

Artist Statement

My goal is to create beautiful things.  In my painting, I attempt to depict the essence of my subject to communicate those special qualities that make a thing what it is.  A basic requirement for this approach is an analysis of what attributes are most characteristic of my subject.  Equally important is to recognize why I am responding to a particular subject and how I can most effectively convey an idea or feeling about it to potential viewers.  Crucial to the process is depicting light and color relationships.  Each work of art is a close study of the color and the appropriate light key of the subject to create a sense of place and/or form.  I attempt to capture the dramatic and/or subtle effects of light on form, whether painting a panoramic landscape or a collection of ordinary objects.  I currently work in oils and watercolors, and I find that exploring two media enhances my understanding of light and color.  I enjoy plein air drawing and painting in Colorado as well as during my travels further afield.

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