PAT OAKES
ARTIST'S STATEMENT

My multimedia artwork is the fun, joyous result of self-discovery and a color communication of my viewpoint. Works in acrylic, oil, watercolor, India ink, woodless colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, pastel and silverpoint media are the result of plenty of life experience and varied knowledge acquired. Enjoyment of nature and happy, stressless therapy is the purpose as well as affording some pleasurable relief to any human eye. The preference is to paint things of impressive forms, colors and circumstances found at home, while traveling, and sometimes painting my own reality of life from within the mind. The beautifully rugged natural resources of the Pacific Northwest are predominantly reflected in many works since my studio is located in the inspirational and woodsy Snohomish County foothills of Washington State.

Art has always occupied my mind in varied forms. As a child my older brother and I sometimes couldn’t wait for rainy indoor days to lie on the rug sketching horses and cars on the drawing pads we received as Christmas gifts. Art class was the highlight of my day. As a mother of three, working full time, I co-operated a gift shop offering only art items created by myself and a few others.

In 2000 I began taking part-time evening classes in watercolor from various artists including the respected Joan Grout and then acrylic classes from noted artist/mentor Rudy Coffing, both who gave me the basics and refined techniques I continue to teach today. Other teachers have given me wonderful instruction since but I always seem to go back to my root basics when trying something new, which I try to do often. After painting part time for many years I began painting in earnest in my new studio. This has been the happiest time of my life’s memories, and often wished I had started earlier. I began teaching beginning and intermediate acrylic painting and found I love passing on the wonderful techniques taught to me as well as those I have researched and practiced over the years. An enlightening trip to China in 2003 seriously sparked my interest in their culture and Chinese Brush Painting. I teach a beginning class in it as well.

  • Past member of The Greater Marysville Art Guild
  • The Greater Marysville Art Guild, Rotating & Round Robin Exhibits, WA
  • Marysville Library, WA
  • Plank Member of Arlington Arts Council and past Officer of the Board of Directors, Program Coordinator
  • Arlington Arts Council’s Art-Along-The-Way Exhibits, Eagle Festival, and Arlington Library, WA
  • One Woman Shows, Instructor-Drawing & India Ink Classes, Chrysalis, Anacortes WA
  • Two Woman Show, River City Grill, Marysville WA
  • One Woman Show, Instructor-Acrylic, Chinese Brush Painting, Brushstrokes Art Supply, Arlington WA
  • Gallery North of Edmonds, WA, Member & Monthly Exhibitor
  • Brian Scott Gallery, Exhibitor, Brookings, OR
  • Instructor-Acrylic, Chinese Brush Painting, Watercolor, Pat Oakes Art Studio, Arlington WA

    • Collections:

    Chuck and Janette Wall
    John and Adelle Nunnally
    Kristina Blair
    Steven Slawson
    Bob and Iris McCutchen