Something colorful is going on in the Town Engineering Building. Monika Pate, a local artist, is debuting an exhibit of watercolor paintings on campus.

The collection emphasizes Pate’s floral paintings that capture the beauty of nature. Especially evident in her florals is the interplay of light and shadows within each flower petal, according to a recent press release.

“Word has gotten around about her talent,” Lowell Greimann, exhibit organizer, said. “We were pleased that Pate volunteered her work.”

Pate was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland. She has a Master’s degree in biology from the University of Warsaw, the press release said.

Pate came to Iowa State University in January 1993 to complete her Ph.D. while doing biological research.

A year later she decided to take an art course at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames. Suddenly, biology was no longer a high priority for Pate.

“I loved painting so much I would spend hours at it,” Pate said in a recent phone interview. “I never did finish my biology program.”

Pate insists the changes in her life have been good. Living in Ames with her husband and two kids, she is quick to compliment his role in her art. “He is my best juror,” Pate said. “He’s always very supportive and encouraging.”

Pate’s parents in Poland were more surprised than supportive. “At first they didn’t believe it was me,” Pate said. “They didn’t think I could paint because I had never tried it in Poland.”

The surprise is understandable when you hear Pate’s art education has been largely self-taught. Although she has attended some art workshops, her skill has been developed mainly from books and personal experience.

“This started out as just a hobby, and now it has become my job,” Pate said. “I used to sit in my parents’ garden and draw sunflowers. But I never thought about art seriously until now.”

Pate hopes to write a book on her techniques of floral and still life art. Meanwhile, she will continue to exhibit her work in galleries and competitions around the country.

Her exhibits in Iowa include galleries in several Iowa towns such as Ames, Des Moines, Mason City and Cedar Falls, and have also appeared in Arkansas, Colorado and Nebraska according to the press release.

In addition to showing her work in numerous national and international shows, Pate has won more than 10 different art awards this past year.

Pate’s watercolors can be viewed free of charge in Conference Room 388 of the Town Engineering Building. Anyone wishing to view them can call 294-3532 for an available time. The paintings are for sale and will be displayed until October.