Patty J. Topel
I
paint because I can't imagine life without art. When I was a child I wanted to
be an artist and though my life has taken many turns along the way, my dream
has never changed.
I
have studied and enjoy many mediums, from painting to silkscreen and
photography. I have spent much of my working career designing books.
I
consider myself a modern impressionist. I try to interpret the mood and texture
of the landscape—my personal reality—and convey my love of the
outdoors through my paintings. I hope to create an environment people can
relate to, a feeling of peace, a memory, a sense of the landscape, a moment in
time. The same feelings I experience when I encounter these places and try to
capture them on my canvas.
My
subject matter finds me at different times of the day. I might drive by a
place, the light hits it just right, and the scene composes itself for me. I
enjoy working with new materials and techniques. Currently, I am working on
stretched canvas and linen covered panels. I sometimes use wax medium to bring
more texture to a piece. Mostly I just use paint. I have a love affair with
color, and I enjoy just applying rich color with my brushes. I am beginning to
incorporate more tools, sometimes wiping paint out and other times using a
palette knife for sharp edges or heavy application. I sometimes use a
traditional underpainting, and sometimes I paint with a direct approach. All
these things depend on the time I have available to paint, the location, the
subject matter, and what my goals are. If I am on location I paint directly,
getting the mood down before the light changes. If I am in my studio, I might
do an underpainting or a value study and work from there. Or use one of my
sketches from the field to make a larger studio piece.
In
my current work I am striving to loosen up more. To tell more about the subject
by using less detail. To boldly show the colors and textures of a subject. I
enjoy using color to convey mood and to lead the viewer through the painting. I
want the viewer to feel like he or she is a part of my work. I continue to
learn, to push myself, to reach further than I can, and hopefully, to bring the
viewer with me.
Patty
J. Topel
Freeport,
ME
Patty
J. Topel
Bio/Timeline
1975–1977 private
art lessons (John Segesman)
1977–1982 attended
college; studied graphic design, photography and fine art. BA in Graphic Design
1982–1993 freelance
designer/production artist; created brochures, catalogues and textbooks for
various clients
1993–2003 production
manager Intercultural Press; design interior and covers of books, catalogues,
and website
1999–present various
continuing education including
Maine
College of Art studies with Sarah Knock and Diane Dahlke
workshop
with Sarah Knock
workshops
with Stan Moeller
Sanctuary
Arts with Sean Beavers
Represented
by:
Pierce Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
member
of Freeport Art Club
member
of American Women Artists
Rochester,
NH Fair—6 ribbons 2003 (1 special award, 2 first premium, 2 first, 1
second)
Laudholm
Fresh Paint Auction participant 2003, 2002, 2001
Skillins
Winter Art Show (honorable mention 2003)
Tate
House Fresh Paint Day participant 2003