PATRICIA SOLOMON

Background

After receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fine Art from SUNY Brockport, Patricia worked as a Graphic Artist and the manager of a gallery in Rhinebeck, NY.  Her work often incorporates parts of her life experiences while traversing Europe, expressing richness in culture, history, Art, and Architecture. While raising her family, Patricia established her studios in Hyde Park and Nyack, NY.  Patricia is a lifetime educator, who has taught studio arts in an eclectic breadth of media, including workshops in: papermaking, life size sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, murals, and puppet making. Patricia was always at her best while working with children, ultimately leading to a Master of Science in Art Education in December of 2003. In 2007 she was deeply honored to be selected as ‘Teacher of the Year’ in Poughkeepsie City School District. Completing 21 years of teaching, she retired and returned to her first great love, Ceramics. Patricia’s husband Mark, four daughters and grandchildren are her greatest fans.

Artist Statement

Grandview Studio in Nyack, NY specializes in ceramics, painting, and illustration. The basic component of Patricia’s work is the landscape. Her methodology in ceramics is straightforward, inspired by an emotional theme, she charcoals and photographs related elements in scenery. The images are mono-toned washes, painted on bisque fired stoneware or porcelain. The ceramic work is then glazed with a clear gloss and re-fired. Raku pieces are fanciful animals of Patricia’s childhood, recreating lost friends in clay. They are then bisque fired, glazed with clear crackle and plunged into combustibles to yield dark areas and define crackle delineation.

Inspiration

Patricia has been guided by many artists. Of greatest influence, is Kathe Kolowitz; her ability to depict and uncover the essence of humanity in the most noble of terms, rendering the effects of poverty, hunger, and war on the working class. Other artists that have inspired are Coqui Calderon’s work with altruistic abstractions of the human spirit and Jolene Rickard’s ability to portray the symbolic spirituality of the Earth.