Hi, my name is Pat Graham and I'm just getting my feet wet as a correspondent here on the blog. I've been a sketcher of some
sort for all my life. I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing on
backs of discarded paper in the waste basket at my grandparents home or in
sketch books purchased from the local art supply store. Art instruction was
offered in abundance in the public schools throughout my formative years and I
also took semi private lessons on the side as a youngster. As a partially deaf
child, being able to express myself through art was a saving grace! I can
honestly say that, too, because it became my way of understanding the world
around me. It was always my desire to earn a living using my artistic abilities
in some form or fashion when I grew up, so I immersed myself in commercial art
training after graduating HS and worked in that field for a number of years. On
the side I also studied fine art and enjoyed doing commissioned portraiture.
Fast forward.....an autoimmune disease started to interfere
with my eyesight and I gave up art for a decade, at which time I was able to
have a series of surgeries that helped restore some of my visual clarity. Of
course, I picked my best friend, ART, back up again and took off running! Fine
art and Urban Sketching have been my focus as of late and I'm enjoying myself
completely. Getting together with the local sketching group offers a wide
assortment of locations to meet up at, get to know other like minded folks and
sometimes enjoy lunch, too, after we sketch. The laid back atmosphere allows
for all levels of abilities to participate with ease - I love that attitude of
inclusion.
I encourage anyone who would like to try their hand at
drawing to join with us and give it a try! Once you get used to it, many find
the process meditative and soothing. I always say that art puts me in a 'zone'
like no other - one that I return to again and again eagerly.
Below, you'll find some of my works, sketching and fine art,
created post eye surgery. I hope to meet you sometime!
Pat Graham
This lovely Pat, thanks so much for sharing your story. Daisy
ReplyDeleteAnd I thank you, Daisy, for all of your encouragement! :)
DeleteThank you for sharing a bit of your backstory, Pat. I love your art and your warm personality. I hope to read more from you, and I always enjoying following your art. I'm glad you were blessed to get your eyesight back so you could create more beauty for the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Misha. I guess we both like following each other, lol. I love the works you post online.....
DeleteThank you Pat for sharing your love of art, and for bringing your own artful vision of the world to us. Long may you create! /tb
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tom.
Delete