Artist’s philosophy
I figured I had a few things to say and a lot to share, and now feels like the right time to start sharing in a new way. Having been a teacher in schools for nearly a decade, pivoting to showcase my work and my art differently has been a challenging yet rewarding journey. It has pushed me to reflect on what I’ve accomplished, rummage through old hard drives, uncover forgotten projects, and reminisce about the journey that has brought me here. To my surprise, I’ve created quite a bit over the past 15 years. Slowly but surely, I’m refining what’s been made, deciding what needs a little polish, and preparing to bring it all into 2025.
This blog will also be a space for me to share insights into the processes I use to create my art. I want to discuss my style choices, the materials I work with, and how I bring to life the ideas that float around in my head. My artistic background is deeply rooted in photography, particularly black-and-white film photography developed in a darkroom. The imperfections inherent in that process, the ever-present risk of things going spectacularly wrong, and the challenge of working through those imperfections have always been incredibly alluring to me. Fun fact: I’ve even transformed my laundry into a near-perfect darkroom for developing and processing film.
When I aim to capture the world as realistically as possible, I turn to photography. A photograph frames everything as it is, preserving all the details. However, when I want to create something more abstract or expressive, I reach for paint or a pencil. Painting isn’t my baseline medium—after all, I’m primarily a photographer and graphic designer (my degree says “Media Arts,” but that’s a story for another day). Yet, when I envision something that doesn’t already exist in the world and I want to bring it to life, I paint it. My style leans naturally toward the abstract, but my recent content has taken on deeper and more meaningful themes.
A quick glance at the work I’ve uploaded so far should reveal a distinct theme beginning to emerge. This theme will continue to evolve over time, eventually culminating in a long-term goal: hosting an exhibition. The details are still bubbling away, but the vision is becoming clearer. I’ve drawn inspiration from the VicBears Men-on-Men Art Competition and the life-drawing sessions held by the Bear Men of Adelaide. These influences have encouraged me to explore representations of the male form. As I grow more comfortable in this space, my work will likely become a bit racier and unapologetically queerer. Exciting times are ahead.
Ultimately, I’m creating the kind of art I want to see and have on my walls. Nearly everything I’ve made is now hanging on hooks in my house, waiting for its next step. I’ll share more about that journey as it unfolds.
Exciting times are indeed ahead.
—Pat
