| The Artist Patti Gilley |
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I was raised in a small town in Ohio and have always been fascinated with wildlife.
For as long as I can remember, I'd rather be hiking in the woods or wadeing in a
stream, than shopping at the mall. I've always tried to photograph the animals
that I have encountered and with help of these photos I hope to convey the
emotion I felt for that brief moment I photographed them. In creating my
paintings I try to tell a story rather than painting a portrait of a creature. It is
important for me as an artist to experience nature as wells as have a direct
contact with animals. Only in doing so, I am able to present animals authentically.
Having watched the changes in nature due to the advancement of civilization, I try
to show problems that have arisen for wildlife. I've also tried to point out the
similarities between humans and animals and weave a common thread between the
two. By pointing out our shared characteristics I hope more people will realize
that all living things have a place on this planet and by destroying wildlife habitats,
we are actually destroying our own .
My creative ability has always been a great part of who I am, although I only
began to paint about 18 years ago. The biggest share of my paintings have been on
antiques and found objects. This began when we built a cabin in North Carolina. I
found a discarded saw blade at the building site and painted a picture on it.
Eventually I began to buy antiques, paint them and sell them at art and craft
shows. After about 14 years of this, it began to be too difficult to find suitable
objects to paint on and began to shift my work to canvas. I still occasionally paint
antiques if I find something that catches my eye. My medium choice is acrylic. I
enjoy the quick drying component of acrylic paint that allows me to add details
quickly without mudding up the colors. I also enjoy painting old buildings and
machinery, but my main focus is wildlife and horses.
Being a self-taught artist has been a struggle at times, but I truly believe that it
is the best way to develop a style that is truly your own. In the end, I hope my
art is a reflection of my respect and admiration for nature.
For as long as I can remember, I'd rather be hiking in the woods or wadeing in a
stream, than shopping at the mall. I've always tried to photograph the animals
that I have encountered and with help of these photos I hope to convey the
emotion I felt for that brief moment I photographed them. In creating my
paintings I try to tell a story rather than painting a portrait of a creature. It is
important for me as an artist to experience nature as wells as have a direct
contact with animals. Only in doing so, I am able to present animals authentically.
Having watched the changes in nature due to the advancement of civilization, I try
to show problems that have arisen for wildlife. I've also tried to point out the
similarities between humans and animals and weave a common thread between the
two. By pointing out our shared characteristics I hope more people will realize
that all living things have a place on this planet and by destroying wildlife habitats,
we are actually destroying our own .
My creative ability has always been a great part of who I am, although I only
began to paint about 18 years ago. The biggest share of my paintings have been on
antiques and found objects. This began when we built a cabin in North Carolina. I
found a discarded saw blade at the building site and painted a picture on it.
Eventually I began to buy antiques, paint them and sell them at art and craft
shows. After about 14 years of this, it began to be too difficult to find suitable
objects to paint on and began to shift my work to canvas. I still occasionally paint
antiques if I find something that catches my eye. My medium choice is acrylic. I
enjoy the quick drying component of acrylic paint that allows me to add details
quickly without mudding up the colors. I also enjoy painting old buildings and
machinery, but my main focus is wildlife and horses.
Being a self-taught artist has been a struggle at times, but I truly believe that it
is the best way to develop a style that is truly your own. In the end, I hope my
art is a reflection of my respect and admiration for nature.
| A Brush with Wildlife Patti Gilley (828) 837-2563 Email: abrushwithwildlife@frontier.com |