This logo may be familiar to many of you who know Patricia Van Essche of PVE Designs. Patricia is a talented artist who creates illustrations and works of art in a fun and whimsical manner.Her fresh and colorful art will makes you smile while making an impression you won't soon forget!
Please enjoy some examples of Patricia's art and read our conversation below.
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| A commissioned work of art for the Holidays |
1) How did your journey down the path of art begin? When did you
realize your calling?
My journey down the path of art began at a young age.
Raised, one of seven children, my mother loved keeping us all busy and I
think creating art was where I could easily keep myself busy. Still to
this day, I love creating art and keeping busy. I never imagined that my
own art would sustain me while raising my own family.
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| A Commissioned Pet Portrait |
2) What kind of mentoring and encouragement did you have in your
youth or adulthood?
I do think having a mentor and people around you to
encourage one in any field is key. My parents always helped to encourage
me and sent me to a teacher when I was a teenager who told me to "do
art" and forget all the rest. I think to this day, those words have
been validated. Many artists have inspired me but the real key is in
doing.
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| Patricia has recently renovated her hilltop home and she now has her own custom designed art studio with room to meet with current and new clients. |
3) Are there other artists whose work you admire or that provide
inspiration?
Inspiration is all around me and the internet
does make it easy as an artist to share work. I love nature, spending
time with my family, friends and then seeing how the world is evolving.
Things seem less fussy and there is a more casual approach to living that
I find inspiring. After all the way we live, the way we look at life
involves sort of an aesthetic lens.
I think every artist can agree, our
surroundings influence. Sargent's work inspires me, Jean Cocteau and
Cecil Beaton. Each of them developed a strong and unique style.
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| A montage of J McLaughlin Store Illustrations |
4) To follow up the last question; what does inspire you when you
begin a work of art?
I gather inspiration before I begin by doing research so
that I have everything to look at and then before I actually begin, I see what
I need to do or the finish of a work of art. It all has to align in order
to work itself out. I think having inspiration is one thing, but having
the goal of an ending or a finish line is very important.
5) Your style is very distinctive. How did it develop?
I saw you work for the very first time when I began blogging, and
discovered Mrs. Blanding's, who lives right here in my hometown! Right there I
saw you had created her site's header art!
That is the key, to find one's style and then feel
comfortable in that style. I was educated and trained and many of the
studies involved copying other artists and learning about their styles.
Finding one's style is the key. When you find it, you know it
because it comes naturally. I have always been a bit obsessed with
lifestyle and loved all that goes with. I worked for years in Fashion in New York and loved it
and always had work or freelance work to keep me busy and in demand.
I have been working on my own for 16 years now and many
clients are repeat. They love my style and I am so grateful to each of
them. Many I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know.
Yes! I understand that you lived in Manhattan, traveled the world, as a designer and design director for Ralph Lauren,Calvin Klein and Liz Claiborne brands.
6) Patricia, tell us about the other passions in your life? How
does your spirituality affect your art?
Life. Fresh Laundry. Hot coffee. Dawn.
Sleep. Good food. Family. Friends. Quality.
Faith.
All of it affects my work. I think spirituality does
affect my art in a way that gives me hope to look forward to new tomorrows and
know that life goes on.
Loving what I do involves passion, work and faith.
7) Lastly, please give some words of advice to the beginning artist
of any age.
The best advice is to find gratitude each day. Do
what you love. Perfect your craft. Find your own style. Try
not to complain or create problems, be a part of your own solution and look for
what makes you feel good. I think good supplies and connecting with other
artists is important too.
Make it work. Work at it. Do it for 100 days and
then ask yourself if you love it. Also, telling yourself you are an
"artist" and working at it is all the advice one really needs.
Take classes. Study. Travel.
Patricia, thank you so much for participating in The 2013 Artists
Series!
Please reach Patricia through her website PVE Design and be sure to read her very interesting PVE Design Blog
Please leave a comment for our fellow blogger and artist Patricia!
Thank you to all of my friends and followers who support The Arts!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Images provided by PVE Design
