Patti Robinson
Westhampton Beach, NY
Website
PattiRobinsonArt.com
Social Media
Instagram
How would you describe your work?
A sensual and sensory twist on abstract expressionism, Bauhaus geometrics, with a mid century modern color palette.
What inspires you?
No matter how routine & boring life can be, creating gives me the opportunity to have an adventure. The process of making something that didn’t exist before is really exciting and nourishing. I sometimes feel badly for those poor souls who can only make piles and piles of money but can’t create anything new — well, not really! If I put off creating for a while I don’t feel like myself. The exhibition that inspired me the most was “Color Riot! How Color Changed Navajo Textiles” at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.
Can you speak about your process?
My studio is a big table piled high with papers and fabric without any sense of order. I just dive into the piles, guided by what colors excite me that day and how they relate to each other. Some of the papers are from my enormous collection of vintage LIFE magazines. I love the retro color palette, but lately I’ve been painting some shockingly bright colors. I can’t resist some 80s neon. It never goes out of style.
I never glue anything down until it feels finished. I take iPhone photos of all the different versions I try out. It somehow helps me get closer to what is going to feel right. Paint always comes last.
Texture is super important too, my favorite works have globs of paint, textured fabric and lately casually applied colored tape. I like the physicality, sensuality, sloppiness and the obviously handmade feeling. I used to photograph a lot of street art & graffiti in the 80s and love mending too so I gravitate towards things that are mixed up and repaired.
How did you become interested in art?
Growing up as an only child, I became interested in art because I could only read and play with cats so much. I have a BFA, but I had a bit of hiatus from doing art — over thirty years. I felt the work I did in college really sucked, and that led me to believe that I’d better quit. I eventually realized that I'd done bad work in college because my mental health was so compromised that even eating one small meal a day was an accomplishment. That what I did then didn’t predict the future. We can be so hard on ourselves!
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
One favorite movie is "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg". Obviously for the incredible color, but it’s the combination of the color, music and the incredibly romantic story that makes me sob every time. Another is "The Last Black Man in San Francisco", a story of not having, or having a home, family and friendship. I really relate to this film because my childhood home, where I currently live, is also symbolic and a very big character in my story. Let's just say "it's complicated". The idea of home is often present in my work as well. Sometimes like an aerial shot of the neighborhood or a floor plan.
I just saw the Judy Chicago retrospective and the New Museum and I’m in love with her right now. Such a badass! My favorite museum is The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia. It's way more than the name might lead to think.
What advice do you have for younger artists?
Well, I’m at the age where I could have advice to younger artists, but I think the same advice applies to anyone who would like to do more creative work, but somehow just doesn’t get around to it. Don’t care so much what it looks like, work from how it feels like. Thinking that creating art is about how it looks is, in my opinion, a limiting belief. If it's authentic, it can’t be half bad.
Any more thoughts about art, creativity, or anything else you would like to share?
'Tis better to make a mess than to not make anything at all.
