1 ::: Why are you an artist Patricia?

It has become a calling if you will. We are all born with certain personality characteristics, and through life's experiences we slowly become who we are, with a lot of trial, error and uncertainty. I have always responded to different forms of art as with music, writing, and the fine arts. I picked my medium, which was to paint on canvases. My son for instance, who is 16, choose music to show his artistry.

+2 ::: Could you tell us some more about your paintings?

Painting gives me the most satisfying pleasure. When all the forces come together: the brush strokes, the right colors, the mood I created through starting the painting, my style which comes through, and I try not to loose that stream of consciousness when I paint. It is trance-like and it is the only way I know how to meditate. It is like awake-dreaming. Often when my work is completed, I have noticed that sometimes it is autobiographical, or there are instances in my life that get incorporated into my work, also when I paint imaginary people, they become people that I know (in the painting). It all depends on the subject matter. Sometimes the most ordinary of paintings are my personal favorites, because I love what I experienced and where I went when I painted it.

+3 ::: What artists have influenced you, and how?

There have been many but my personal favorites are, Käthe Kollwitz, Edward Hopper, Richard Diebenkorn, Gabrielle Münter, Gustav Permeke, and David Hockney.

+4 ::: What other interests do have (besides painting)?

I make long walks with my dog, I read good literature-primarily fiction-and I am part of a dream group, I love gardening and cooking, I have some good friends that I enjoy getting together with, and the best of all is just being with my husband and two kids.

+5 ::: What inspires you to paint and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

Often the many drives and walks around Vermont. I try to approach my work like a child (between the ages of 3-9), which is without reservation, to put it down initially with ease and enjoyment, and then later I round off the edges, meanwhile I try to retain that original flair, as to when I started it.

+6 ::: How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

I learn as I go along, one rule of thumb, don't spend money that you don't have. With the sales of my greeting cards, I give a percentage to a nonprofit organization of my choice, which is indicated on the back of each card, and I find people like to purchase items, if a part of the proceeds go to a good cause. I sometimes give a percentage of the proceeds from paintings, depending on how much the gallery takes. Life is like a boomerang if you throw out good, good comes back, if you throw out bad, bad comes back. It's kind of like the law of the universe.

+7 ::: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I'd like to be doing what I am doing now, I only hope that my work will have improved, and will be more evolved from what it is now.

+8 ::: Could you talk about your latest series of paintings and what you are trying to achieve with them?

Lately I have been drawn to painting trees. I paint abstract symbols, figures and landscapes (sometimes still-lives) and while I am painting them, my heart yearns to paint trees.

+9 ::: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Never give up. Paint and draw what is difficult. If you have troubles with buildings, paint buildings, if it is the figure you are not sure of, paint the figure, and when you do this you will see how nice your repertoire comes together and what you dreaded doing the most could turn out to be your most rewarding, and satisfying work.