Monika Pate was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, and holds a Master’s Degree from Warsaw University. She has been working with transparent watercolor since 1994 and is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor Art Society–Houston (Elite Member), Texas Watercolor Society (Purple Sage Status), among others. Monika’s artwork is included in numerous private and corporate collections in the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Her paintings have been featured in International Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, and several editions of Splash, including Splash 20: Creative Compositions, Splash 19: Illusion of Light, Splash 17: Inspirational Subjects, Splash 16: Exploring Texture, and Splash 6: The Look of Texture. She also regularly participates in national and international exhibitions and competitions. The common theme in Monika’s art is the influence of light on a variety of subjects. “I have always been fascinated with the visual effects that light creates on various objects. It establishes the mood, enhances forms, textures, and colors, and creates the strong contrasts that I am drawn to. I find inspiration everywhere — sunlight filtering through petals, a crystal vase from my native Poland, flea market finds, or objects gathered during my travels. I chose a realistic approach to emphasize the fascinating details, forms, and textures of my subjects, especially when illuminated by a strong light source.” Monika’s technique involves applying multiple transparent layers to gradually build color and value. While she often works from light to dark, she sometimes layers lighter washes over darker passages - a process made possible by the transparent nature of watercolor.