Artwork by Patrick Shields

I’m an artist that likes to create whatever I’m feeling like. I have a multitude of “styles” if you will, though I look at it like I’m just creating whatever I want. Art takes me to an energized state of imagination while I’m “conjuring,” and a contemplative state (most of the time) while I’m working. That old 1% inspiration and 99% prespiration thing.

I like the feeling I get when I complete a piece and now have something in the world that represents my own vision.

Some of my artistic challenges are, what I consider, a need to streamline my process. I really just mess around until I feel it’s done. I’d like to be more efficient. I also wish I could keep the “whole picture” in my mind as I’m working instead of focussing on one little bit at a time. I like when I see an artist work up a piece section by section whereas I tend to address the whole work with the one thing I’m dealing with at that time, such as highlights/glazing/etc. Though I remember one of Odd Nerdrum’s students saying that he repainted a figure’s arm about 6 times! I guess I’d like to learn how to proceed methodically through a painting without having to redo so much of it. …