Turbulence, Transitions & Turning Points

The past few weeks have been a little chaotic. Honestly, it’s been rough. Significant shifts, emotional turbulence, and many things are up in the air, but art can always find its way through, even in the messiest moments.

First, some good news: Pat Smith Mentoring is officially launched! What began as an idea for supporting neurodivergent and queer young people with creativity, confidence, and navigating transitions has now taken shape as its own space. I’ve created a separate Facebook page just for the mentoring work, which will help keep things more precise and focused as I continue to build both sides of my work — mentoring and art — into something sustainable and connected. If you haven’t followed it yet, I’d love for you to jump over and give it a like.

Alongside that, I’ve wrapped up my classroom teaching job. It's an emotional ending — education has been a massive part of my life for over a decade. Still, the time has come to explore new paths that offer more flexibility, creativity, and alignment with who I am and what I care about. That said, stepping away has also come with a strange sense of limbo. I’m working hard to build momentum with my projects and creative work, but I'm also very aware that I need something more stable to keep things moving while I get back into the swing of painting more regularly.

Speaking of painting — yes, despite everything, some art has been coming out. I'm proud that some new pieces have emerged from the haze. They feel like little anchors in the storm. Creating amid emotional and practical upheaval isn't easy, but it’s often when the most raw and honest work can surface. I’m trying to permit myself to take it slow, breathe, and allow the art to come as needed, not just when the schedule says so.

One big goal keeping me grounded is entering a piece into the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival competition. It's such a vibrant, inspiring event, and being part of it again — or even just aiming to — helps me focus and feel connected to the broader creative community. I hope to put forward a new piece that reflects some of what the last few weeks have felt like. Whether or not it gets selected, it’s a valuable target to work towards.

Everything is in build-mode: art, mentoring, coaching, creative offerings, stable job searching, and finding the right rhythm for this new stage. There’s a lot of juggling, a fair bit of uncertainty, and plenty of hope. I’m open to whatever opportunities come next, whether they’re creative, community-focused, or something more secure to hold it all together while the projects continue to grow.

Thanks to everyone cheering me on, buying art, sharing posts, or simply checking in. Your support means the world, especially during times like this.

Stay tuned for more art drops, mentoring updates, and (hopefully) some good news on the exhibition front soon.

In creativity and connection,
– Pat