art of the Shenandoah, The

Not only can collectors tour the P. Buckley Moss Museum in Waynesboro, Virginia, but they can also visit with the artist when she opens her home to sign her prints several times each year.

When Pat Moss invites collectors into her home for a visit, it's easy to understand why she's affectionately called the people's artist. Thousands attend this quarterly event, waiting in line for hours.

Today, Pat sits at a wooden table in the Shenandoah Valley apple barn she turned into a home. She listens intently as a collector gushes about the print she brought to be signed. After the visit, the artist bends over the framed print and scrawls her spidery signature and a short personal message on the glass.

Pat has built a portfolio of more than 3,000 paintings, many featuring scenes from the Shenandoah Valley. Her most beloved images depict 19th-century barns set on stark wintery landscapes, scenes of daily life among Amish and Mennonite families, and Canada geese.

An invaluable collection of originals hangs at the P. Buckley Moss Museum, just a mile down the road from Pat's home. It's a must-see for every true fan or an introduction for those who don't know her work.

Back at the barn, Pat continues to execute her signature for anyone willing to wait. At times like this, even she has a hard time explaining her success. "I'm speaking their language, perhaps," the mother of six muses. "People like different things, but I like to think they're responding to the calm in my paintings."

Part of Pat's popularity could be that she champions so many charitable organizations. She has produced prints to raise money for breast cancer screening and to provide resources for families dealing with brain tumors. She also created the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education, which helps children with learning disabilities.

All of this makes life very hectic, Pat admits. Still, she enjoys every moment. "It's really a good life if you have something you love to do," she says with a smile.

P. Buckley Moss Museum: 150 P. Buckley Moss Drive, Waynesboro, VA 22980; (540) 949-6473, 1-800-343-8643, or www.pbuckleymoss.com. Meet the artist: Pat will be in Waynesboro at the barn to meet the public and personalize her prints December 5-7.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Nov 2003
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