Before moving to Albuquerque in 2001, Patricia Forbes lived and worked in the Washington DC area. She studied art at Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Virginia, and while there created a semester of art study in Paris, France. She has also studied photography at Northern Virginia Community College.
In Albuquerque, her work is also on display as part of the Public Art Collection of the renovated Albuquerque Convention Center. She recently was part of a two-artist show at Hunt Gallery at Mary Baldwin University. Her work is also in private and corporate collections around the country.
ALBUQUERQUE THE MAGAZINE named her as 2007 Best Local Artist, and as Best of the Rest in 2008 and 2011. She has appeared on HGTV’s “That’s Clever!”, where artists demonstrate fun art projects and techniques. Occasionally she offers classes in acrylic and gilding.
Artist Statement
Working with acrylic paint, specialty papers and textured surfaces, I delight in creating works to engage the viewer and share my artistic experience. As a contemporary abstract artist, I am interested both in the outer world of materials - paint, paper and texture, and, at the same time, in the inner world of inspiration and guidance.
I first select a surface - rectangular or square. Or I design a surface of a combination of shaped panels. From there I paint or texture a background and begin adding elements of paint, paper, metallics. As I move from stage to stage I am allowing the existing work to inform the next step.
The real challenge and fun begins as I experiment with cut shapes, colors, patterns and opacity – observing how the layers harmonize and enliven the work. Throughout, I am experiencing the work as it evolves. When I have created a joyfulness and vibrancy in the work, I know I have created an experience I wish to share.
