Patti Walsh – Too Cool for School

The creative process, for me, has been an ongoing process of discovery, exploration, experimentation, trial and error, and moments of joy along with strife in equal measures; I think that’s how I know I’m evolving. I’m building the vocabulary of my own voice and discovering that I have a fair amount to say – this sometimes surprises me! I paint intuitively and trust the process that something deep inside me is going to get expressed. My recent foray into retirement has afforded me the luxury of time to put my energies and focus into my art; I am striving to achieve my goal of really honing my skills and perfecting my craft.

As I approach a new piece of work, I typically have a process where colors are decided beforehand and I just let loose on the canvas with nothing in my logic mind. I let my angst, joy, frustration, silliness, or a thousand other feelings dictate the movement of the work. It’s enjoyable to learn how people perceive the finished pieces and tell me what they feel I might have been thinking when I created the piece; sometimes they’re spot on, sometimes not so much. But it gives me great joy when my work evokes strong feelings and the most interesting interpretations.

“Well, I never got my license to live

They won’t give it up

So I stand at the world’s edge” -Iggy Pop