When Impressionism meets with Hyper realism, by Beatrice Chassepot
The show features hyper realistic colored pencil drawings, which showcase Patterson’s masterful drawing techniques.
Elizabeth Patterson received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design but stopped practicing art after sustaining a severe hand injury in 1984. Fifteen years later, at the urging of her partner, Elizabeth resolved to return to her art-making practice. She discovered that her gift for drawing remained intact. In her initial foray back to her artwork, memories of a much-loved Hawaiian vacation were captured in a series of brilliant aquatic drawings. The challenge presented by the subject material stirred the artist’s imagination and compelled her to begin a new body of work. Employing colored pencil, graphite and a touch of solvent, Patterson began to experiment with urban scenes but maintained the challenge of representing water in the compositions.
Place des Victoires – 2015 – colored pencil and solvent on Strathmore illustration board 9 x 12 inches; 22.9 x 30.5 cm – Courtesy Louis Stern Fine Arts
Elizabeth Patterson takes the art of drawing up to the category of Great Masters. Patterson’s art of Hyper realism is a perfection. She is able for example to show the refined architecture of the buildings of the Place des Victoires in Paris (above), on a simple one drop of rain.
But, Elizabeth Patterson not only shows what she sees. Her art to draw “things” she sees, her Hyper realism is not the target but just a mean. Patterson’s Hyper realism becomes just a tool to express something most important, Patterson’s impressions at the moment she sees what she sees.
Eiffel Tower III, 2014 – 2014 – color pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum – 19 x 21 inches; 48.3 x 53.3 cm – Courtesy Louis Stern Fine Arts
Elizabeth Patterson is able to render her feelings when, sat at the back of a taxi, she sees through a window full of rain drops. Depending on the drawing, those feelings are full of nostalgia, melancholia, happiness. Sometimes like with Eiffel Tower III, it’s like she is is overwhelmed by despair, like a bit lost. On the other hand Avenue Raymond Poincaré II is joyful despite the water all over the window. Same for “Arc de Triomphe III” which shows little spots of primary joyful colors.
I’m sure that, where he is the Master of Impressionism Claude Monet enjoys a lot what he sees at the exhibition!
Patterson is now part of be-Art magazine list of “Ultimate Artist”
Beatrice Chassepot, Los Angeles, January 3d, 2017
Arc de Triomphe III Paris – 2015- colored pencil, graphite, solvent on Strathmore board – 14 x 24 inches; 35.6 x 61 cm – Courtesy Louis Stern Fine Arts
BIO
Patterson is from Pennsylvania
She lives and works in Los Angeles since 1979
