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NEIL
PATTERSON
Master OPA, RMPAP, ASA, SFCA
OPA - Oil Painters of America
RMPAP - Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters
ASA - Alberta Society of Artists
SFCA - Federation of Canadian Artists
Neil
Paterson’s dream to become an oil painter was born in an elementary school,
where his fascination for a reproduction of a painting by the Group of Seven
forerunner, Tom Thompson, sparked his desire to paint. At
the age of twelve he visited the
National
Art
Gallery
in
Ottawa
, and decided he would one day be an oil painter.
On his thirteenth birthday he received his first oil paints.
After stealing one of his father’s canvas combine belts he created
his first masterpiece. Neil began
his formal training as an artist at the
University
of
Calgary
and the
Scottsdale
Artists’ School.
In
1992, Neil’s work was featured in the Premier National Juried Exhibition of
Traditional Oils, Oil Painters of
America
(OPA) at the Prince Galleries,
Chicago
. In 1995, Neil was the first
Canadian to become a signature member in the OPA.
In March 2000 he was awarded the status of Master Signature Member,
becoming the 34th painter in this elite group.
Neil now sits on the board of directors of the OPA.
He has juried both regional and national shows for the OPA and has
served as OPA juror of awards in
Springville
,
Utah
.
In
1993, Neil was elected to the prestigious group of intellectuals and artists
known as the Salmagundi Club of
New York
(1871). He has numerous awards to
his credit, and has been published in many books, newspapers and monthly
periodicals. Neil’s work has
been exhibited in galleries across North America, in seven provinces and
seventeen states.
Neil
believes color is the essence of painting.
He uses an impressionistic Alla Prima style of painting to convey his
ideas through landscapes and florals in both Plein Air and studio painting.
ARTIST’S
STATEMENT
In order
to relate to painting, to connect with it, there must be emotion.
There must be passion. A
painting is not merely a reproduction. It
is much more than that. I must
speak to the heart and soul. It is
this quality of passion that is of primary importance.
The passion I feel when I see beauty is the same passion I look for in
my paintings. It is passion I feel
when I see beauty that is the same passion I look for in my paintings.
It is passion first and foremost, and then it is design, color, the
handling of paint and simplicity that come into play in the making of a work
of art.
