Patty Reeves is a Michigan native who has lived in Florida for the past 23 years where she has continued to feed her intensely creative spirit by attending workshops and mentoring with local artists. She is interested in anything and everything to do with art and works with a variety of mediums including clay, acrylic, pen and ink and airbrush.

Patty moved to southern Indiana from 1972-1977 and contributes her growth as an artist from the experiences she gained during that time in her life. "I was very fortunate to have fantastic art teachers when I was in middle and high school. They made the arts so real for my classmates and myself by taking us to museums and allowing us the opportunity to display our work in the local museum. I actually sold my first piece there." She became fascinated with the French Impressionistic period of art and the works of Van Gogh and Paul Gaugain. She also became interested in American artist Peter Max who influenced her use of color. She draws inspiration from music while creating. "One of my favorite bands is the progressive rock band YES. When I have the need to get 'in the zone' of creating, their music is a great vehicle to transport me there."

Patty supports other local artist of all genres through her membership in the West Pasco Community Arts Partnership and the West Pasco Art Guild. "I have a real interesting story about the Guild. My daughter had just graduated from high school and I was feeling that empty nest syndrome. I happen to be at a small vegetable market a few blocks from the Art Guild and mentioned my desire to take an art class to the store owner. She pointed me up the street to the Guild. So I drove up the street and I was greeted by Mary Jane Prichard, a wonderful artist, who walked me through the gallery. "The smells coming from the studio took me back to Indiana and my days in high school I felt like I had found myself again. Before I left, I had paid my dues for membership and the next day found myself in Mary Jane's clay building class." And that was just the beginning. "From there I became involved in the West Pasco Community Arts Partnership which supports all of the arts, visual, performing, and literary, in our community. This gave me an outlet to begin experimenting with other mediums and resourcing with other artists. Through CAP I found a means to market my art."

Patty has a permanent installation in the lobby of Shady Hills Elementary as well as The Beanery coffee shop in New Port Richey. "I love the challenge of large scale projects and to turn an otherwise lifeless wall into an object of beauty which was the case with the freshwater scene with the manatee. My husband had just built a barn next to the house and we have a large window that faces it. He suggested either I paint it or he was going to. That mural is the result of my first exploration into airbrush."

Patty lives in Hudson with her husband Chris and two children, Crystal and Patrick. She also has a very special fur friend who is now an online companion of Nubzilla. Her three year old dog, Eddie.

Feel free to contact me at PattyReevesArt@yahoo.com