Patricia Tewes is a painter based in Florida and Maine. She works in oil and water media, reflecting on the often dreamlike state of life.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Painting on the Florida gulf coast and in Kennebunkport Maine, Patricia has a deep connection to coastal waters and the surrounding nature. She uses her background in biology and medicine to reinforce the sensation that the world is beautiful, dangerous, and could be a only short dream.
Patricia was born and grew up on Long Island, New York. At 18, she went to college at the University of Chicago where she studied biology and eventually became a medical doctor. She practiced medicine as an anesthesiologist and medical researcher while maintaining a painting practice. After raising two daughters, she studied painting at the New York Studio School, the Art Institute of Chicago, and completed her Master of Fine Arts degree at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Patricia now divides her time between Florida and Maine where she paints subjects related to the coastal natural environment, including water, plants, animals, and people. Her greatest interest is telling the stories of people in the outdoors.
Patricia initially worked as a plein air oil painter and while she loves working directly in nature and continues to do so, Patricia realized that she was interested in more than recording a picture of what was in front of her. Over a long period of time, she developed a practice of drawing and painting with pencil, ink, watercolor and gouache in small sketchbooks while on hikes and trips with her husband and dog. These materials, and combined with memory, form the basis her work in watercolor, oil, acrylic and cold wax.
Patricia is a member of the Women’s Contemporay Artists of Sarasota, the National Association of Women’s Artists, and a small collective of artists called Artemis. She’s also a member of the Art Center Sarasota.
Her work with tropical plants was featured in Antennae, the Journal of Nature and Visual Culture. Botanical Impressions in 2020. In 2021, she was selected for a panel at the Modern Language Association, Painting the Plantocene. She completed a residencies at the Rokeby Museum in Vermont, and the Chateau Orquevaux in France.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My artistic expression is deeply rooted in the harmonious interplay between paint, color, and nature and our dreams of life. Through my work, I aim to capture not only the essence of the natural world but also the intricate stories of human interaction with it. As our lives become increasingly artificial and virtual, there is a profound need to reconnect with the outdoor world. As waters rise and forests burn, the essence of nature almost becomes a dream.
I find myself particularly captivated by the unique qualities of various types of paint. Oil paint, with its rich and viscous nature, grants me the ability to layer and sculpt the textures of nature, thereby creating depth and dimension on the canvas. In contrast, watercolor's flowing and unpredictable characteristics allow me to mimic the fluidity and transience of natural phenomena.
Exploring these diverse qualities of paint is integral to my artistic process, as it enables me to convey the intricate dance between color and nature. However, beyond the technical aspects, my driving force is the profound significance of beauty. In a world often characterized by chaos and complexity, my art serves as a potent reminder of the inherent wonders that envelop us.
With each brushstroke, I strive to compose a visual symphony that pays homage to the breathtaking palette of the natural world, inviting viewers to rekindle their connection with the simple yet profound joy of experiencing beauty. My art offers a space for introspection, where audiences can immerse themselves in the enchanting harmony of paint, color, and nature, ultimately leaving them with a renewed sense of awe and appreciation for the world that surrounds us.
