You will likely find some hidden treasures when you take a closer look at some of the paintings of Patt Scrivener.
Her artwork is bright and bold, but underneath the vibrant colours you may discover a surprise.
“With my work you need a closer look because I build up so many layers. I paste things into my work,” the award-winning Parksville artist pointed out.
The experimental mixed media artist said she finds beauty in old things and that is why she collects old dictionaries from book stores and imbeds the text into her work.
Fascinated by form, color and texture she uses water based mediums to layer, scratch, take away and rebuild as her paintings evolve.
She loves contrasts, which is evident in her work that is both rough and smooth, dull and shiny, textured and flat, vintage and modern.
It’s hard to categorize Scrivener’s style in her highly-textured abstract paintings because she uses so many mediums in her work.
“I work a lot in acrylic, but also photo transfer, collage, pen and ink, charcoal, and various things.”
Creating from a backyard studio at her home in Parksville since 2009 where she also teaches her techniques, Scrivener admitted she wrangles with two of her passions … art and music.
Both are considered universal languages and Scrivener, who also excels as a harpist, often has to choose between painting or plucking.
She said it’s a struggle she has faced all her life because she is passionate about making art and music.
She spent her childhood playing the piano, although the harp was constantly caller her.
In 2000, she found a teacher who rented harps and that’s when her love affair for the instrument started. Since then she has learned from many excellent teachers and now plays in the community at seniors’ residences, weddings, art openings and dinner parties.
Scrivener is a member of the local DeCosmos Fine Arts Society, the Federation of Canadian Artists and the American Institute of Floral Designers.
Scrivener said she enjoys being part of the vibrant arts scene in Parksville and Qualicum Beach but acknowledged she prefers to work in the solitude of her studio.
“Because of how I paint I like to stay in my own bubble. Being an artist is quite insular and I like to work by myself.”
That being said, she also enjoys teaching and offers a variety of workshops which she calls art play shops in her spacious studio.
“It is a safe place for people to come and work. I have a lot of beginners, but some are seasoned. I had a woman in her 90s at one of my last work shops. It is refreshing to see that at any age they are willing to learn. The elderly give inspiration to young ones and it makes it really rewarding to teach.”
Some of Scriveners upcoming workshops include: Embellished Photo Transfers April 12 and 13. Collage June 11 and 12 and Introduction to Encaustic May 28 and 29.
For more information on the courses visit www.pattscrivener.com. You can also connect with the artist on Facebook:
pattscrivenrcontemporaryart.