I’d like you to meet autodidactic mixed media artist Patsy Spencer.
Patsy started late in life, after moving from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to New Concord, Ohio. Her Alabama family was definitely worried about her being “with all the Yankees.” Getting used to living in a small, rural community, and not knowing anyone just added to the challenge. It wasn’t long, however, before she connected with her next-door neighbor who was an art teacher, and a passion for creating was ignited. Patsy started out with simple studies in realism, and later took some life drawing classes at Muskingum College. She also began to read and watch as many videos as she could.
Patsy used to love to visit the Zanesville Art Museum. One day, during a special event, she noticed a distinguished man sitting on the other side of the room, and decided to introduce herself. Striking up a conversation with him, she casually asked him, “are you an artist?” Little did she know that he was Roman Johnson! That day began a lifechanging relationship with him. For a couple of months, she would drive to Columbus, and spend time with him in his studio. Sometimes he would be working with another student, sometimes not. Patsy learned some important basics from him—mixing colors, and stretching canvas. On more than one occasion she and other students would accompany him on a drive in the country, pulling over to the side of the road and setting up easels to paint landscapes.
Life changed for Patsy not long after that, and she moved to Atlanta for a while, but was able to reunite with Johnson when she came back to Ohio. Circumstances caused her to lose touch with him again, and several years later when she sought him out, she discovered that he had passed.
Patsy loves to experiment. In the beginning she painted with oils, but eventually discovered that she preferred the quick-drying nature of acrylic paint. Her process involves a variety of other materials to add texture and dimension to her work. She loves to incorporate recycled art, objects from nature, and even things you can buy at the dollar store! We had a conversation about her creating a three-dimensional wall hanging with discarded roofing slates, and she’s very interested in learning how to incorporate resin. I honestly think that if she could figure out a way to attach something to a canvas, she would consider using it.
Like many creatives, Patsy has struggled with anxiety and depression. She feels that she’s reached a point in her life where she manages it well, although 2020 did make life more challenging for her. Patsy shared that sometimes her work is a reflection of her struggles and sometimes not. She also confided that it’s difficult for her to work on her art when her symptoms are worse, and has learned to be less hard on herself.
Patsy took me to her basement studio, and she immediately brought my attention to a large canvas on the easel. She doesn’t yet know what it will be, but it is definitely a still life with flowers; in fact, the chosen title is “Sometimes It’s Just Flowers.” We shared a common perspective that sometimes the narrative behind the work is, “sometimes I just need to create something beautiful.”
When I asked Patsy, “what would you like everyone to know about you?” There were several things:
- I’ve always worked very hard.
- I started late in life.
- I feel insecure about my work.
- I’m still learning, and I love to learn!
- I love looking at other artists’ work, and seeing their process.
I could easily identify with that list. When asked about her influences, she named a mixture of artists, famous and not. It’s obvious that she is open to learning wherever and whenever she is able.