About Us
Pat Witt founded The Maurice River School in 1965
The school’s philosophy is to promote education about the Maurice River as well as use various sites along the river for landscape classes.
She states "The Maurice River School of Painters is not of Bricks and Mortar, but in an Ethereal Sense, likened to the Hudson River School, Brandywine River, Susquehanna River, and Delaware River Schools. Where Artists and Painters gather to enjoy the regional sights.”
About Pat Witt
Patricia Vanaman Witt is a lifelong native of Cumberland County on the Delaware Bay in southern New Jersey.
Born February 10, 1927, Pat Witt began studying art in 1937, attending the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Glassboro State College. She has had many one-woman shows, and has been part of group shows for more than 40 years at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Art Alliance, The Noyes Museum, Brian Parent Center, and as part of the American Painters in Paris Bicentennial in 1976 in Paris, France.
Pat is known as the "Wetlands Painter". Her preferred mediums, opaque watercolor and oils are will suited to her subject. Her art work has become part of private and public collections locally and throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. Over the years, Pat has received numerous awards as an artist and teacher, as well as being recognized for her work with the environment. She was featured in the 1985 New Jersey Network biographical documentary, Pat Witt: An Artist and her World.
The Barn Studio is considered on of Pat's biggest works of art. She founded it in 1962 and has taught and inspired thousands of children and adults with her enthusiasm for the arts. Recognized for her many achievements, Pat's biggest reward comes from observing the growth of her students. This growth can be seen in the developmentof their artistic skills, the understanding of different art forms, and the student's appreciation for the environment, as well as the respect they have for their fellow students.
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