About Patricia olstad + Patty-o Art
Artist's Statement
Color and line combine to create a fanciful story that I hope everyone wants to step into, whether it be a swim in a swirling sea, a flight through space or a dance with a delightful duo.
My use of color in my acrylic paintings comes directly from my dreams spurred on by thousands of hours of technicolor movies, cartoons, and comics as a child. Bright and exciting and full of promise. Fantasy blending memories, family stories and social issues. A lifelong fabric crafter, I enjoy creating patterns in my work, such as a background crazy quilt, the cosmos stitched together.
My watercolors can be delicate and lighthearted or dark and moody. Their themes stem from my love of children’s literature. I use traditional pen & ink and watercolor and combine them to create my various characters involved in their day-to-day lives.
In 2025 I started a series of Cross Stitch Quotes from the Scifi/Horror Genre. X-Stitch Words of Wisdom started as a lark and developed into a full expression of my love of horror, humor and handwork.
Through these mediums I continue to conjure and tell my tales with hopes of bringing joy and wonder to viewers, making this fascinating, mercurial world a more lovable and livable place!
Bio
Patty graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration. She lived in New England for many years where she free-lanced for local businesses and publications and in 2001, began to concentrate on painting.
She moved back to her hometown on the North Fork of Long Island in 2007 and continued to free-lance and show her paintings at local venues. Since 2013 she has been creating window displays and chalk art for locals such as Arni Paperie, North Fork Craft Wines & Spirits, The Lenz Winery, Wölffer Estate Vineyard and McCall Wines.
Recently, Patty illustrated a children’s book Just Like You written by Kaitlyn Mamay, which was released in January 2025.
Patty has been focusing on color, shapes and movement in her acrylic painting, bringing vivid dreams, objects, and characters to life, bright and bold. Her small watercolor vignettes reflect her love of children’s books and Illustrators such as Edmund Dulac, Maurice Sendak, and Beatrix Potter.
CVV
Education:
Rhode Island School of Design BFA 1983
Professional Experience:
1983-present doing business as Patty-O Art, Commissions and Freelance Artwork/Illustration
Clients include Arni Paperie,The Lenz Winery, North Fork Craft Wine & Spirits, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Wölffer Kitchen, McCall Vineyard, Harvest Inn
Solo Exhibitions:
2024 “Wonderment”, North Fork Craft Wines & Spirits, Greenport NY
2023 “This and That”, The Lenz Winery, Peconic NY
2021 “Color My World”, The Lenz Winery, Peconic NY
2014 “New Works”, The Lenz Winery, Peconic NY
2014 Whisper Vineyards, Saint James NY
2011 Peconic Bay Winery, Cutchogue NY
2010 Peconic Bay Winery, Cutchogue NY
2009 Peconic Bay Winery, Cutchogue NY
2007 “My World” Kennebunk Free Library, Kennebunk ME
2006 The Massiello Group, Kennebunk ME
2005 Colette’s Cup, Biddeford ME – Solo
Group Exhibitions:
2026 “Curiously Gorey”, Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Yarmouth MA - Juried
2026 “Three Sisters” with sisters Lee Cleary + Ann Romeo, Southold Free Library, Southold NY
2025 “Three Sisters”, with sisters Lee Cleary + Ann Romeo, The Lenz Winery, Peconic NY
2018 “The Canvas Project”, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn NY – Collaboration (book printed)
2007 “Sisters” with Lee Cleary, Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport NY – A Deux
2007 “Small Works” Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport NY Group – Juried
2006 “Prelude to Spring”, The Irvine Gallery - River Tree Arts,
Kennebunk ME - Group - Juried
2001 “Black and White” The Union of Maine Visual Artists,
Ellsworth ME - Group - Juried
2000 River Tree Arts Faculty Show, Kennebunk ME
Media
https://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2014/12/art-beat-paintings-by-pat-olstad-on-display-in-peconic/
https://northforker.com/2014/12/meet-north-fork-artists-behind-chalkboard-scenes/
https://www.danspapers.com/2014/09/lenz-winery-peconics-picturesque-vineyard/