About the Artist

About me:

photo of artist Pat Tanger
Pat Tanger

I started drawing as a child, alongside my father, and continued throughout my youth, earning a BFA from Pratt Institute. Early on, all my work was pencil and charcoal. It was not until I joined the Newington Art League, that a fellow art league member introduced me to soft pastels. It was then that I began to experiment with color and other mediums. My art education has continued through classes and workshops with professional artists including Doug Dawson, Christine Ivers and Richard Mckinley.

Most of my art I create in my studio from reference photos taken in my travels. I work in a variety of media including graphite pencil, colored pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, acrylics and oils. My favorite medium to paint with is pastels. I love the forgiving nature of the medium, the instant results, the intensity of the pigments and the way they reflect light.

When I paint, I feel I am giving a piece my life and my experiences. I am sharing my vision. The immersion in the process and expressing myself visually, is a consistently gratifying venture that gives my life a refreshed sense of purpose.

Over the years, I have participated in and received awards from numerous art shows and festivals. These include shows at: the Mark Twain Museum, Spectrum Gallery, and the CT +6. I currently the President of the Newington Art League, as well as a member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, the Wethersfield Art League, and the Art League of New Britain.

Summary