(American, b. 1956)
San Diego based artist Patricia McGeeney is a native of Santa Monica, California. Her natural artistic ability was realized at an early age and has become the primary focus of her life. She received her formal training at Art Center College of Design where she majored in illustration. She continued her studies at the Watts Atelier provided a strong foundation in classical figure drawing and painting. Over the years she has studied with many distinguished masters, all contributing to her growth and understanding as an artist. She believes that working from life, finding the true essence of her subjects, the play of light and shadow, color harmonies and lively brushwork are all elements that ultimately make good painting. For these reasons the freshness and immediacy of plein air painting has become another dominant area of her work.
Though her paintings contain a variety of subject matter, figure and portraiture have become her area of interest and considers herself part of a new American figurative movement where her work is an amalgam of realism and impressionism. Great artists of the past such as early California Impressionists, Sargent, Sorolla, Klimt, Velasquez, (too many to list) along with many contemporary masters are constant sources of inspiration.
“My goal is to create honest work, faithful to what I see and interpreting into harmonious and balanced imagery with solid draftsmanship and design; painting that is pleasing to the viewer but also engaging and satisfying on an emotional level.”
EXHIBITIONS
2022
OPA Western Regional Exhibition
AIS National Exhibition
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
2021
OPA Western Regional Exhibition
1st place award American Impressionist Society all member online exhibition
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
CAC On Location in Malibu
CAC Gold Medal Exhibiton
2019
3rd Place Portrait Society of America , Members only Competition (non-commissioned category)
OPA Western Regional Exhibition
OPA National Exhibition of Traditional Oils
CAC Gold Medal exhibition
2018
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
Kern County Plein Air Invitational
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition
CAC On Location in Malibu at the Weisman Museum at Pepperdine
2017
Kern County Plein Air Exhibition
LPAPA Less is More and Best of Plein Air Exhibitions
2016
Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
Slusser Gallery Plein Air Summer Exhibition
Zion Plein Air Invitational
2013
ARC Salon Finalist
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational Honorable Mention
California Art Club Exhibition ” City Lights”
2012
Salon International. Painting “Peaceful Asylum”
California Art Club Exhibition “Summer Escapes”
2011
California Art Club “Fresh Air” group exhibition Fremont Gallery, Pasadena, CA
2010
California Art Club Exhibitions “California Heritage”, the “Ring Cycle”, “Golden State Treasures”
2009
California Art Club Exhibitions “Julian Back Country”, “Eternal Light”
AWARDS
2020
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational, Honorable Mention
2015
Portrait Society of America, Members Only Exhibition #11 Award of Merit for “Truth and Beauty”
2014
3rd place Quick Draw category in the San Clemente Plein Air Competition
2012
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational 2nd place award
“Art in the Pines” annual plein air competition 2nd place award
2011
SDAI Regional Group Exhibition “JUROR’S CHOICE” award for “Baila Conmigo”
“Art in the Pines” annual plein air competiton 1st place award
