
As a child in the 1950s, Patricia Oblack sat in front of the television and learned to draw with Jon Gnagy’s New Television Art Instruction Book. The exercise led to a love of art, and in 1962 she begged her mother to purchase lessons from Art Instruction, Inc. in Minneapolis. Within a few weeks, a box arrived with art supplies, including her first palette knife. Patricia finished every lesson, and was in good company–another student of the school was renowned Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. From that humble beginning, Patricia became a lifelong artist, currently creating dark, earthy abstracts, which she paints with the same palette knife from childhood.
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About The Artist
Artist Statement
Over these years she has absorbed a wealth of knowledge from owning several successful art related businesses, leading her to a final destination of abstraction through Fine Art. Patricia’s approach is of her own design, that of layering and weaving colors onto panels and paper to produce interpretations rather than representational renderings, creating abstracts which fall just short of recognizable features, that might suggest lost or forgotten places, eroded forests, fragments of fresco’s, bits of stone or walls and wastelands destroyed by time. Her process incorporates the addition and subtraction of paint to and from each surface, by pushing and pulling it with the tilt and turn of her knives. Excavating and scraping each color, she incorporates improvisational gestures, mark making, horizon lines and other intuitive strokes, bringing everything onto and through the paint, to create a final balanced composition. The strength of Patricia’s work is encapsulated by her intuitive process, by which she feels that the board, along with music and her knives are in control and she is just the facilitator, reaching for the end result.
Every painting has its own voice listed on the back, noting the composer or musician whose work was played during the creation of each piece, so much so, that several of her various series have been named for those artists.
Her work has been collected by hundreds of private buyers as well as corporations who appreciate her style for its rich colors and deep textures that provide the viewer the possibility of hidden stories and secrets that entertain the senses.
Press
Hear What Collectors Say About Patricia's Work
A Richter Thank you so much for the purchase of my painting, I'm thrilled that you love it, that's what makes it all worth the while! Happy Holidays to you & yours, Patty.
We love this painting! We were intrigued by this series and so happy we chose this piece. We look forward to enjoying it for many years to come and to sharing it with those who visit our home.
Born in St.Louis, Mo., I have spent my entire life refining my knowledge in the creation of art with little else than a will to succeed. Crayons, pencils, paint & palette knives are as comfortable as baking bread or cooking in my kitchen. After 45yrs of owning several successful art related businesses from decorated furniture to pottery & wall murals, Fine Art settled in and abstract was a very comfortable pad for a final landing. I’m home! My approach is of my own design, that of layering and weaving of colors onto panel and paper to create abstracts falling just short of recognizable features. While horizon lines and other gestural marks may appear, they are but an extension of my thoughts as the music, which helps me to bring everything onto the surface.
The majority of Patricia Oblack’s paintings are nothing more than little miracles, some more than others. On occasion it’s much like riding a bicycle down a one lane flat road on a sunny day, while others are full of hills, twists & turns, which take her into a dark forest full of witches & wolves…then suddenly she escapes into the sunlight where everything falls into place and walla the painting appears, finding again, that it all worked out, it’s just magic! Never be afraid to ask questions about the artwork. I'd love to hear from you!
S Buzzell I am completely self educated & my process is my own invention. I do not teach my process or have it on film. Thank you for your interest, so glad you like the work. P
I'm a novice at art and kind of particular as to the type of art that I want to create. Now that Patricia's work (Awesome!) this is definitely the direction I want to go. Do you have any videos or tips to how you do things. I'm willing to buy. Thanks so much.
Thanks J, I appreciate you stopping on my page....perhaps you'll purchase Remnants some day soon. Patty
I love Remnants at the Piazza
Thank you Chris, so glad you like the work. As far as Jon Gnagy, who knows what would have happened without him. I spent a good portion of my childhood tracing & teaching myself to draw. Art is firmly running through my blood, it's what I do best. Patty
Beautiful work, and I remember J. Nagy as well!