Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty deGrandpre.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a mixed media abstract artist living in Beverly, Massachusetts. I received my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Visual Design from Southeastern Massachusetts University. I worked at a type house for a few years. I worked as a freelancer creating abstract collages as illustrations for various publications.
I enjoy the art of the print. Any kind of print. I am fascinated by the transfer of the image to the surface. I consider myself a printmaker. I particularly like to work on very smooth surfaces which is atypical for a printmaker. I haven’t always been a fan of technology but as I started to learn what you could do with a computer, a scanner, a digital camera, and a printer, I really began to embrace it. Over the years I have been experimenting with the use of my scanner and inkjet printer to create one of a kind inkjet monoprints. I also enjoy working in the art of collage.
Whether it is a digital collage or a traditional “cut and paste collage”, I usually use my images or pieces of my prints to create them.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been very smooth. I was laid off from the type house. At the time I was taking care of our first born who had significant health issues. I was finding it difficult to find employment in the art world. It is competitive. I think because all my energy was invested in my family, I didn’t have it in me to be in a profession that took so much effort to be successful in.
And truth be told, I really like to do my art on my terms. I needed a job. I needed to make an income. I wanted to be able to find consistent work. So I went to nursing school… I still work as a nurse today. It has its challenges. Both require commitment and time. I don’t want to be perceived as “not a real artist” because I make a living doing something else. Mentally, that has always been a big challenge for me.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I think I have found my own style/vision. I think I use technology creatively. I am proud that I can combine traditional printmaking techniques with the digital process and can make unique work.
I am also very proud that I am able to be successful in a profession (nursing) that is so different from my passion for art. I can wear two hats. Switch back and forth seamlessly.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My husband is a big g fan and really gets that art to me is like breathing… I just have to do it. I also have a good friend that was in my studio years ago for a visit. I wasn’t putting my stuff out there that much back then.
She looked at my work and asked why I wasn’t showing my work. She said, “this stuff is great, why is it just in here”?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pattydegrandpre.wordpress.com
- Email: patty.degrandpre@gmail.com
- Instagram: patty.degrandpre
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