In this charming minimalist portrait by Pat Service, a young female—her head and shoulders visible appears to be looking behind her. The background is a pretty soft green and the figure’s hair is in a brown bob—deep blue spaghetti straps of a dress on the shoulders. Service is known best for her beautiful landscapes, so this represents a departure from her usual compositions.

“The simple layout and near-abstraction allows me to set up unusual colour juxtapositions. Using glazes and layering the paint over and over again, I seek an intense colour experience.” Pat Service

She acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of B.C. and later studied art at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. Service’s work is held in private collections in North America, Britain, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.