Upstate artist Patrick Edwards calls himself a “nature mystic” who uses his colored pencil, stained-glass-like images to inspire people to slow down and take in the beauty of nature. He will show his works in “Words and Images from Nature Walks” March 5 through 30 in Gallery II of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.
An artist’s reception will be held Thursday, March 21, as part of ArtWalk Spartanburg.
“This exhibition will focus on both the visual artistic images – primarily floral and garden scenes – produce and the thoughts and perceptions – ‘nature poetry’ – that these nature scenes inspire,” says Patrick, who grew up in Iowa and South Dakota. “The works use various types of colored pencils, most notably Prismacolor pencils. I create a template or relief that I then use to emboss the design into the paper before I add the colors.”
He continues, “As a nature mystic I hope to inspire people to slow down – and, yes, sometimes to stop – to find peace, joy and inspiration in the beauty of nature. If we open our perceptions to the natural world around us, we can find insights and answers to our questions about life. The beauty of nature and its sometimes-intrusive images – a colorful blossom or sunrise – inspire thoughts about cycles, such as life and death.”
Retiring after 34 years as a therapist, academic psychologist and social science researcher, Edwards shifted his focus to his longtime interest in creating nature poetry and artwork. “My work is strongly influenced by nature mysticism and Asian art and philosophy. I also carried forward my fascination with the mystical effects of light and stained-glass windows – an interest fostered and fed by my Catholic roots.”
He says his interest in art “began during my childhood on the wind swept plain of South Dakota, dabbling in drawing and some oil painting.” After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and traveled west to California, Alaska, Asia and Antarctica.
“I began to find artistic inspiration in the scenes that unfolded before me,” he continues. “After leaving the service, I completed college and then began work on a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Georgia.” He then began an academic career and developed his unique artistic technique – embossed Prismacolors – to create stained-glass-like images. He also attended poetry readings, where he shared his nature poetry.
The 30 art pieces in the exhibit will be offered for purchase, with prices ranging from $30 to $200.
Edwards says he’s excited about exhibiting at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg, which “represents a wonderful diverse and accepting group of creative people,” he says.