Pat Cross Art in Seasons of the Ridge Juried Show at Tamarack Marketplace

In this custom framed oil painting titled Autumn on the River, a fisherman pulls back his rod to cast his line where he aims to catch a native brook trout. Meanwhile an oversized boulder and festive fall hardwoods lean in to see what happens next. Pat Cross tells of the inspiration of this piece. “My father trained all of us kids how to catch our dinner on the mountain streams of West Virginia,” says Pat Cross, adding, “Yet I’ve never seen him more relaxed and at peace than in that environment. I tend to agree.”

There’s something about the gentle melody of water tumbling over rocks, of a breeze whispering through the trees, of the swell of insect calls that serve as a lullaby for the nerves. If it were not for the festive fall foliage and tingling suspense of adventure, I believe we would all fall fast asleep at our post! I recall spending hours studying the water currents, the peculiar shapes of rocks, gnarly ropes of tree roots, and far reaching limbs of trees.

In this juried exhibit titled Seasons of the Ridge at Tamarack Marketplace, arts residing in West Virginia each tell their own story using one of the most powerful of communication tools — visual language — to articulate their experience within this most poignantly beautiful landscapes, the Appalachian Mountain Range. This exhibit runs from August 1 through September 18, 2026 and is open to the public at no charge. Many visitors connect so deeply with the artworks that they purchase one or more for themselves or as a gift for a loved one.

To view this or other artworks by Pat Cross of people engaging the outdoors, visit Tamarack Marketplace at 1 Tamarack Place, Beckley, WV 258014. Or, browse Pat’s online gallery at www.patcrossart.com