Thoughts of Monet, 2012
Patrice Burkhardt

I find myself reaching back to simpler times for artistic inspiration and ancestral curiosity. As inspiration for my paintings I began collecting vintage black and white photography, dating from the 1890's to the 1950's. To be part of my collection a photo needs to have a soulful appeal -compelling, yet, timeless in its depiction of life. It is important that the faces and candid moments frozen in time have a strong universal familiarity. No matter how interesting and different the clothes, hairstyles, architecture, apparent lifestyles, transportation and interior design appear -there must be this underlying familiarity.

I often find color too enticing to the eye, overriding all my sensibilities. When color is eliminated great images and natural compositions jump out more easily. The black and whiteness of the photos frees me to freely consider the element of color.

Although my collection is a collection of total strangers, by the time the painting is finished I feel as if I know this person or group of people intimately. Perhaps it is my sensitivity or intuition as an artist or maybe my many years as a teacher that helps reveal this understanding about my nameless subjects. Perhaps the photo itself exudes something heartwarming. Whatever the reason, the photos and paintings inspired therefrom have become one of my dearest treasures.

Education:

Drawing and Painting Graduate Coursework, 2006-2015
Academy of Art University - San Francisco, CA, USA

ArtStudy/Giverny, Giverny, France July 1998

M.Ed : Education, 1985
University of Florida - Gainesville, FL, USA

B.F.A : Drawing and Painting, 1977
Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Minor in Psychology

Awards & Distinctions:

2005 Stair-Karrish Memorial Award, Florida Artist Group 55th Annual Exhibit,
Florida Gulf Coast University Art Gallery, Ft. Myers

2004 Teacher of Distinction, Education Foundation of Collier County, Naples, FL

Exhibitions:

Juried Member Shows with the Florida Artist Group:

2019 Ringling College of Art and Design, Basch & Smith Galleries, Sarasota
2018 The Webber Gallery - College of Central Florida
2017 Coral Springs Museum of Art
2016 Center for the Arts, Bonita Springs
2014 St. Augustine Art Association
2014 Alliance of the Arts, Ft. Myers 
2013 Le Moyne Center for Visual Arts, Tallahassee
2012 Ringling College of Art and Design, Selby Gallery, Sarasota
2011 Cornell Museum, Del Ray Beach
2011 Maitland Art & History Museum
2010 Big Arts Center, Sanibel Island
2009 Leepa Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs
2009 Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach
2007 Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences
2006 Ridge Art Association Gallery, Winter Haven
2006 Cornell Museum, Del Ray Beach
2005 Boca Raton Museum of Art
2005 Florida Gulf Coast University Art Gallery, Ft. Myers
2004 Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo
2004 ArtServe Fort Lauderdale
2003 St. Augustine Art Association
2002 The Arts Center, St. Petersburg
2001 Broadway Palm Theatre Gallery, Ft. Myers
2001 Venice Art Center, Venice
2001 22nd Floor Gallery, Florida Capitol, Tallahassee

Solo, Two-person, and Juried Group Exhibitions (*Both National and State):

2018 Diversitatastic! Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs-Art in the Chambers, Orlando
2017 A Moment in Time Solo Show, Venice Art Center, Florida
2015 All Things Considered, Art Center Manatee, Bradenton, Florida
2014 American Women Artists, Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, Massachusetts*
2014 Women Painters of the Southeast, Magnolia Gallery, Greensboro, Georgia*
2012 Two-Person exhibition, Two Artists, Norris Center Gallery, Naples, Florida
2012 International Society of Acrylic Painters Exhibition, Atrium Gallery, Paso Robles,
California*
2000 All Florida Spring Juried Exhibition, The Art Center, St. Petersburg
2000 Teachers Create, Von Liebig Art Center, Naples
2000 Faces of the New Millennium, Alliance of the Arts, Ft. Myers
2000 Special Places, Von Liebig Art Center, Naples
2000 Illuminated Art, Alliance of the Arts, Ft. Myers
2000 Good Things Come in Small Packages, Alliance of the Arts, Ft. Myers
1999 Art 99, Edison Community College, Rauschenberg Gallery, Ft. Myers
1999 Our Town, Art League, Ft. Myers
1999 Solo Exhibit State Supreme Court Gallery, Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida*
1999 An Evening at Giverny, Cultural Park Theatre, Cape Coral
1999 Painting the French Countryside, Caldwell Trust Co., Punta Gorda
1999 Art Encounter '99, Von Liebig Art Center, Naples
1998 enLIGHTened Art, Alliance of the Arts, Ft. Myers
1998 The Elements: Earth, Wind, Water & Fire, Alliance of the Arts, Fort Myers

Professional/Teaching Experience:

1999-2015 Visual Arts Instructor, Collier County Schools, Naples, Florida. Lectured and communicated effectively with students from diverse backgrounds. Initiated thought-provoking classroom discussions to help students develop their critical thinking abilities. Maintained a teaching load of 900+ elementary students each semester.

2014 Author, Amazon Kindle eBook: I Left My Heart in Monet's Garden: An Artist's Journey in France 

2012-2013 Contributing Artist Friends of Art Incognito Fund-raiser Event, contributing artist, Naples Museum of Art

2004 Conference Educator/Artist

“Workshop: Chinese Free Brush Painting," FAEA Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2000-2006 Summer Art Camp Instructor, City of Naples
Taught various week long classes to 6-12 year olds
2002 Educational Writer, Naples Museum of Art
CD: Gow Family Collection (writer), Naples Museum of Art 
I was hired to research and write lessons for Kindergarten through 12th grade revolving around an extensive visiting Chinese art exhibit, the Gow Family Collection. It was housed at the Naples Museum of Art for close to a year. Tim Chestnut, developed the CD which was distributed to all Art educators in Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties.
2001 Conference Educator/Artist
“Workshop: Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky," FAEA Conference, St. Pete, FL
1992 Conference Educator/Artist
“Workshop: Passports: Around the World," National Cultural Literacy Conference, Ft. Myers, FL

Artistic Influences:

French and American Impressionists (Monet in particular);
Wolf Kahn for his intense color vibration
Traditional Chinese Free Brush artists for their seeking the essence
of subject matter