In a recent exhibition at the Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara, artist Patricia Chidlaw showcased a series of swimming-pool-inspired paintings.
The collection, appropriately titled “The Pool Show”, illustrates the various effects of light on water.
She explains that she has always been fascinated by transparent and reflective surfaces so water is a big attraction for her.
Chidlaw was born in San Francisco but had a nomadic childhood that took him to many different countries. My father was a career Army officer as a child. She explains that she grew up in France, Italy, and the Netherlands. This gave her the opportunity to see many of Europe’s greatest art museums.
These opportunities sparked a lifelong passion for art. Chidlaw studied painting at the University of California Santa Barbara in 1973. Since then, she has lived in the region and continued to work there.
She says, “The best thing about painting is that you observe the world carefully.” You notice the world more as you try to paint it, and you become more interested in its complexity and visual appeal.
Chidlaw uses a traditional method, using oil paint on canvas or linen. She says that everything she paints is inspired by observation. “[And] the swimming pool is a constant presence in the landscape of Southern California when I paint it.”
She adds that the Berkeley City Club Hotel’s indoor pool was designed by Julia Morgan and is “the most beautiful pool I have ever painted.”
Julia Morgan also has two other famous pools, the Hearst Castle and Hearst Castle in central California. But Chidlaw still hasn’t painted them.
To view more of Chidlaw’s work, visit www.patriciachidlaw.com.
This article was first published in AQUA Magazine’s November 2022 issue. It is the best resource for builders, retailers, and service professionals in the spa and pool industry. All industry professionals can subscribe to the magazine for free. Subscribe by clicking here
