Jenny’s note: Today I’m especially excited for our craft countdown- you get to meet Patti Robinson, the newest addition to #TeamCTD! Please leave a comment on the bottom of this post welcoming her!!
I’m kind of a craft floozy. You name it, I’ve done it: jewelry making, knitting and crocheting, sewing, paper making, polymer and PMC clay, decoupage and quilting, stamping, stenciling, mixed media, stained glass, metal work and macrame … and more! For some reason I never took crafting seriously as a way to earn a living. With a BFA in Art and Art History, I turned to graphic design as a career but it just didn’t click. I started looking around for something that would be a better fit. I didn’t realize how useful my encyclopedic knowledge of crafting and background in art would be would be until I took a job designing the programming and teaching arts and crafts to children at The Art Farm. Now I also teach classes to adults and work as an artist in residence in health care. I’m really excited to join the CTD Team because I find it really inspiring to continue to experiment with new materials and techniques.
I have stayed true to my first art love, collage and mixed media. I wrote my Art History thesis on the artist Joseph Cornell and had the honor of cataloging his source materials. I now have an archive of my own now, collected over the years from my second hand adventures. I love to use images and objects from the past and mix them up in unexpected ways.
Craft Countdown with Patti Robinson
1. 5 tools or supplies you can’t be without
- Scissors
- Vintage ephemera
- Glue
- Recycled materials
- iPhone for capturing inspiration & documentation
2. 4 photos of your work
I made these flowers out of a Starbucks cup, bag, stirrers and glue. That’s it!
The sweater was dyed, patched & embroidered.
3. 3 motifs that appear in your work often
- Fashion, vintage and contemporary
- Images of men and women
- Textiles
2. What 2 things are you not very good at?
1) My organizational skills are seriously lacking. I often have two tubes of the same color paint because I misplaced the first and then had to buy another.
2) I’m not good at following instructions for craft projects. I prefer to look at photo and then improvise.
1. What 1 thing would you like to brag about?
I failed every art class in High School yet I’m the only person I know from my class who is a working artist. The teacher was very strict and grumpy. I was a rebel. I did just the opposite of what he said, but I worked very hard. I kept taking art (he was the only instructor in our small school) and he kept giving me a 0 for every assignment. I felt very strongly that art was about self expression so as my “protest” I expressed myself. I think my passion for expressing myself has kept me going as an artist and the experience of having a bad teacher helped make me a good teacher.
You can find Patti’s work in her Etsy Shop.
- Pat Catan’s Craft Stores Acquired by Michael’s - February 2, 2016
- Vicki’s CHA Trend Sightings - January 20, 2016
- Vicki’s Favorite Picks from the CHA Top 20 Products - January 10, 2016
- CHA Show 2015: Behind the Scenes with Vicki - January 30, 2015
- CHA 2015 Day 2 - January 20, 2015
- CHA Show 2015 – New Jewelry Products to Watch For - January 19, 2015
- CHA Show 2015: Yarnia - January 15, 2015
- CHA 2015: Day 1 - January 11, 2015
- Craft Product Review: Mod Podge Furniture in 3 Finishes - January 5, 2015
- Trend Report for 2014-2015 – Home Decor - November 26, 2014
Michelle Brown says
Great countdown! I wonder, if we did a survey of High School Art v Working Artists, what would we find?!?
JOAN SMITH says
Welcome Vicki loved reading your bio you are a very interesting person and love how you share it all. You are so clever, creative and super talented so I am so Looking forward to what you’ll be testing and sharing.
Again, Welcome, WELCOME!!!
Kris says
Welcome, Patti! I’m very interested in your “green” mixed media and look foward to what you share with us!
Yvonne says
I was asked to leave my High School art class which had an affect on my of thinking I had no artist ability. Kudos to you for not letting them get to you.