 July 2008
Julia Patterson
Are you married? Do you have children?
I'm married to Andrew Kirby. We've been together for almost 15 years. We have 2 hairy 4-legged children, a 13-year-old named Patsy and a 1-year-old named Timothy.
Native of AZ? If not where you relocated from and how long ago?
I'm a Texan, but I've lived in Arizona for 21 years now, 8 in Tucson and the rest in Cave Creek.
How long have you been involved with APAA?
I joined APAA in the fall and have already enjoyed its wonderful benefits of comraderie and shared information, great workshops and plein air trips. What a find!
In what capacities have you served APAA?
I recently reworked the website and now maintain it.
 What formal art education, if any, do you have?
I don't have any formal education in art, but I took watercolor classes off and on for over 20 years, and now I've dived into pastel through classes and workshops and reading.
What informal art education, workshops, etc. have you taken part in that have impacted your art?
My first workshop ever was Gerald Brommer's collage workshop last year, a solid week of art. That was my first taste of what it would be like to be a full-time artist. It was wonderful and grueling and humbling and exhilarating all at the same time. And although my work in the workshop was awful, somehow it was really the first time I started believing that I was an artist.
A watercolor class several years ago with Sue Hunter jump-started my passion again for painting, and I've been taking pastel classes with her, as well as private lessons with an amazing pastelist named Jane Nassano.
 Do you work in other media…or just pastel?
I'm completely consumed by pastel right now, but I love watercolor as well. I plan to experiment with the watercolor underpainting technique and see what happens when I combine my loves.
Are you a full time artist? If not are you still working? If so, what do you do?
I'm actually a full-time graphic designer. I do anything for print and the Web, and I work primarily with artists. I worked with another graphic designer for 3 years and I've had my own freelance business for 7 years now.
Are you a member of other art organizations as well?
I'm a long-time member of the Sonoran Arts League, and I'm their graphic designer.
What are your goals for your art…a career, second career, enjoyment or hobby, become rich and famous, etc.
I would love to be a full-time artist someday and making enough money to support my habit and to travel so I can paint in exotic locales. I'm going to Greece in September, and that will be my first experience painting plein air outside of Arizona.
 Why have you chosen pastels as a medium?
After 20 years of washy (yet wonderful) watercolor, I still find it incredibly exciting to get immediate deep color and values almost effortlessly with pastel. I had a little trouble retraining my brain to go from dark to light, but when I did, what freedom! I always felt tense with watercolor too, since you have such small windows for getting the results you want. Pastels make me feel very painterly in a relaxed way - no hurry, and if you get mud, just wipe it off. Delectable medium!
Do you work in themes or series? If not…do you have favorite topics?
I was doing a lot of animals in watercolor, but since switching to pastels last year, I find I've done quite a few landscapes. I've never done a series before, but right now I'm working on one based on pictures I've taken in New Mexico, and one on Yorkshire landscapes, from pictures my British husband has taken for me.
 Are you represented by any galleries?
Alas, no, although I just rearranged my office/studio to have a wall full of my paintings so I can pretend.
Any experiences, awards, etc. that have been boosts for your career?
No ribbons, although I participated in a small open studios event in April where I sold 2 paintings, and I sold one through the last APAA show in Sedona. And since then, I've had 2 commissions to paint dogs. That kind of thing feels great!
Anything else that you would like to share about yourself?
My husband just started painting for the first time a few months ago, and now we're both painting two horse portraits for a friend's wedding present. It's just so much fun to be able to share the excitement of art, and now he knows what it's all about so we can discuss ideas and get each other's opinions. In fact, he's the one who suggested putting a note on the door of the New Mexico house (first image above), which really makes the painting I think.
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