OLDS — The Nov. 5-6 weekend will be rather hectic for Patsy Hickok.
The Mountain View County resident is heavily involved in Friendfest, a dinner and dance which will be held Nov. 5 in Olds to thank the community for supporting service clubs.
Also that day – and the next day -- she’ll be the featured artist at the Olds Art Club’s fall show and sale.
That event runs Saturday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 6, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the Evergreen Centre.
During an interview with the Albertan, Hickok admitted that due to Friendfest, she might be a little dragged out that Sunday if she’s not careful.
“I can’t be out too late,” she said with a short laugh.
Hickok was trained at the Alberta College of Art & Design. She also taught at a camp in Maine.
Hickok said she’s humbled to be chosen the club’s featured artist this time.
“It feels awesome, because I’ve always wanted to show my artwork, but I felt like, ‘um, I don’t know, a little too much.’ But this year, I did have lots to show and I’m excited to just get out there and show some of my work.”
Hickok creates paintings (in oil and acrylic), does silversmithing and works with stained glass.
“I will have some stained glass pieces for sale at the show and sale and of course, my paintings,” she said.
When it comes to her paintings, Hickok has been doing a lot of landscapes lately.
“Right now I’m primarily interested in landscapes,” Hickok said.
"I’ve got somewhere I’ve taken photos where I’m out in the field walking my dog and I’ve seen something that I just wanted to capture."
She added "Or, I love stormy clouds and wanted to capture that moment, so things that I see.
"I love how Alberta has such beautiful landscapes; the big skies, beautiful clouds, the colours in the skies and the clouds. I just wanted to capture those moments that I see.”
Hickok has been heavily influenced by works by Canada’s Group of Seven.
And she’s created one painting that appears to be heavily influenced by Vincent Van Gogh -- his swirling skies and clouds.
It depicts a woman looking upward. Koi and flowers are whirling around in the swirling clouds.
“That one there I actually painted for my daughter,” Hickok said. “We had gone to Paris and she just loved the koi fish.
"I wanted to paint a painting where she kind of – she has a longing to – you know, look up at the sky, but then it can be a little bit surreal, right? Things are not always as what you perceive.
“just a longing to do more and to think outside the box.”
