The Sunshine Coast is home to a National Treasure – the 80-years-young Patricia Richardson Logie, a 5’2” bundle of energy who, for the past thirty-plus years, has carved a niche in the Canadian art scene.

As a child living in Niagara Falls, Logie dreamed of becoming the best portrait painter ever, and her supportive family encouraged her in this goal. She recalls her proud father with one of her pieces in hand, knocking on neighbourhood doors and exclaiming, “My daughter did this!” At twenty-one, Patricia married Robert (Bob) Logie and the next several years were devoted to child raising; the two had three sons and a daughter. “Oh, I can remember stirring the soup pot with one hand and painting with the other,” she says.

When Bob retired in 1970 Patricia knew her opportunity to pursue her dream had arrived. Undaunted by having fifteen year-old twins in tow, Patricia and Bob headed to England where Patricia was accepted into the Sir John Cass College of Art.

Patricia glows with pride as she recalls the experience of being able to paint in the National Gallery in London. While in London, Pat exhibited with the Cass Group, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the Society of Women Artists and the Pastel Society. “It was while I was in England that I really bloomed,” she notes.

After her return to Canada, Patricia’s life revolved around her art. She taught classes at UBC and Van Tech and was commissioned to do portraits of many members of British Columbia’s elite. She gleefully recalls being commissioned by then prominent Vancouver lawyer and now judge, Alan Thackery to do a portrait of a Delta potato farmer and local celebrity, Chung Chuck. She recalls Chung proudly posing for his portrait surrounded by spuds.

A founding member of the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists and signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, Logie has an extensive exhibition résumé to her credit.

Her crowning achievement was undoubtedly the seven-year undertaking that produced a series of 31 portraits of Canada’s First Nations peoples, published in 1990 as the art book, Chronicles of Pride. The project was sparked by her disillusionment with the manner in which contemporary Aboriginals were portrayed in student texts.

During the Pope’s visit to the Dene Nation of Fort Simpson, NWT, as an invited guest Logie was presented with the highly prized Silver Eagle Feather Award for her contribution to the native community.

A strong and confi dent painter, Logie’s brushwork is of the bravura school of painting. Her semi-classic nudes – painted with empathy and fi nesse - exemplify the true beauty of the female form. More recently, she has turned her talents to bold abstracts, bursting with vibrancy and a great sense of life force.

Now, in her golden years, Logie admits she is slowing down. “I’ve still got a couple more paintings in me,” she says, “but I believe I’ve done what I was supposed to do. I’m thankful and I can’t ask for anything more than that!”

View Patricia Richardson Logie’s special show and sale of work, “In Retrospect” at St. Bart’s Church Hall, corner of North Road and Highway 101 (Gibsons Way) in Gibsons Friday, Sept 2 (10-4), Saturday, Sept 3 (10-7), Sunday, Sept 4 (12 – 4) and Monday, Sept 5 (10 – 5). Meet the artist at the Opening Reception September 2, 4 to 7 pm.