Sequim Studio Tour: Watercolor Artist Pat Gordon

Today, we continue with our virtual tour of this year’s Sequim Art’s Open Studio Tour. While this tour may be virtual – be sure to do the real tour during this year’s Sequim Lavender Festival on July 17, 18^th and 19^th.

Today we’ll be visiting watercolor artists, Pat Gordon. Pat was born and raised on the Olympic Peninsula. But for most of her career life, Pat was a Registered Nurse and worked for eight years in Renton in orthopedics. She later moved to Port Angeles and spent eight years at the Olympic Medical Center on the surgery floor until she retired in 1999.

When Gordon returned to Sequim in 1987 she had an opportunity to take drawing lessons from Dorothea Morgan. This led to being asked to take water color from her. This was a new medium to Pat but it proved to be the perfect fit. “I loved it immediately. Water color can be quite challenging as you must work with ‘what you get’ rather than ‘what you expect’. Also, this is a medium that requires a considerable investment of time to master. I really enjoy the challenge to this day. Watercolor is just so right for the north west light, mist and softness.”

Pat has a large garden consisting of flowers, vegetables and trees and uses much of these subjects for paintings. She states that she “also loves to paint beach and local forest scenes. I work mostly from photographs that I take myself. In the summer I spend most of my time working in the garden or on short trips locally to gather ideas. Then I use them to paint from September through June when I teach. I was quite reluctant to teach watercolor, but after trying it, discovered I really enjoy it. I learn and enjoy as much as the students do and they pay me! How can I lose?”

Pat has a wide variety of interest. She claims that with her family, friends and siblings she has hiked almost every peak in the Olympics and some several times. The artists has owned horses and was also involved in 4-H. As Junior Gun Club member she learned enough to become a competitive shooter.

Pat Gordon’s studio is located at her home in the foothills of the Olympics and is almost completely surrounded by state lands. She currently teaches water color two days a week. “The students tell me they love to come here because of the surroundings,” says Pat.

Come visit Pat in her beautiful studio and enjoy her watercolors along with the scenery. You can view more of her work and find directions to her studio at the tour’s official site at http://sequimarts.org/news/shows/sudio-tour-2009/.

Richard O’Connor Janine Hegy and are next in line for the tour, however, due to time, pressure and other constraints are not able to participate in this series of articles. Please take the time to see their art on the official tour site at http://sequimarts.org/news/shows/sudio-tour-2009/ and visit them during the actual tour. Our last article covering your’s truly, Susan Martin Spar will posted on Monday, July 13^th. See you then!