Gifted artist Mark Patnode has seen his paintings hanging in local galleries, in famous museums, and in the White House.

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Leiberman, a Connecticut Democrat who became an independent late in his political career, selected Patnode to decorate the state’s ornament that trimmed a tree in White House’s Blue Room. Twice, Leiberman’s influence and effort invited Patnode to the White House and National Mall to represent the State of Connecticut. As a token of gratitude, in 2008 Patnode bestowed upon President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush a watercolor of Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford.

Patnode won best in show at the Slater Museum in Norwich in 2013,as juried by Jeff and Betsy Cooley of Cooley Galleries, and his paintings can be found in libraries from New London to Tel Aviv.

Patnode began his career as an artist using watercolor. He attended Purchase College in Westchester, N.Y., becoming an expert in the fine arts. Patnode was born in Ilion, N.Y. and has been living in the prestigious Griffis Art Center in New London since 1998.

He met his wife, Juner, also an artist, in 2015. Her own watercolor books on Silk Dynasty and Arches watercolor paper, opened for the Melissa Etheridge concert at the Garde Arts Center on Sept. 5.

Mark and his wife are having a joint show in June 2022 at the Norwich Arts Center based on “East and West” for which they have developed a proprietary moniker.

His collection of paintings of scenes and silhouettes of New London and surrounding towns take advantage of vibrant colors and are published by Glenn Cheney and his publishing house known as New London Librarium.

Mark and Juner have two daughters, Zilin, 21, and Becky, 37, who both sing. Mark likes to ski and to go for long walks with Juner. Juner teaches the Chinese language and culture and has students throughout the United States and Australia.

Lisa Shasha lives in Norwich.

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