April 16, 2025

In many ways I’m not nostalgic. I look back on things that were meaningful to me but I try to be in the present with an eye on the future. It came as a surprise, that I have been thinking about past ways of working and techniques of yore. This reminiscing came about when I decided to convert old photos to digital. 

Reviewing the images themselves has been a revelation. I was unprepared to fall in love with the artist that I used to be. I remember the work well, the hours and hours spent fabricating crocheted panels that were a homage to my grandmother, mother, and aunts. These women  who had come before me created amazingly intricate handwork. The delight they took in sharing what they made with their family and friends is evident in the treasures they left behind. Their willingness to bring along and include the youngsters in their midst, helped to carry on the traditions, and in my case to use it as a jumping off point for my work.

December 7, 2024

Reflecting on how my style has changed and being able to look back on what was happening in my life when I created the work is a bonus.  Finding the elements that tie my diverse body of work together is fun and not surprising.  I started out as a painter and became a fiber artist, who became a paper maker,  who went back to painting.  I want to always be a painter.  I feel fulfilled using a brush and pigments.  My stint as a fiber artist in college had more to do with a supportive professor and a hospitable creative environment.  A good teacher can make a big difference in a artist’s life.

The painting below is a flash from the past and much loved by me.

November 15, 2024

I’ve been known to find artwork from a few years ago and not remember making it. Looking at it, I wonder why I didn’t value it more. Could the answer be that I wasn’t ready to accept the direction it was taking my work? Was I so involved with my current thoughts that I didn’t want  the distraction of a new concept?

November 7, 2024

On  rare occasions, I run into someone who is genuinely curious about what I make and why I make it. I am grateful for these generous individuals, they give me a chance to discuss my work and get a fresh take on something I have created. 

Painting is a solitary occupation. It’s me, the paint, and the surface on which I’m working.  My mind is busy making decisions, spotting discoveries, and solving problems. When I paint I’m expressing my thoughts and feelings; my philosophy of life. The energy and care that I pour into creating are the reward but coming across a curious viewer is a gift. My work is mysterious and amusing and it’s nice when someone gets that.  

I have been a painter since my parents gave me my first set of Prang watercolors. They came in a metal box and I thought they were magic! Just add water and a brush and amazing things happened. With the stroke of your hand, you could create a line and turn it into a dog by added a  head and four small lines for legs. One color blends into another. The  shape thats starts out  yellow turns into a big puddle of brown when you add purple. And the paintings would take forever to dry and all you wanted to do was show them off! Almost as much fun was cleaning your brush by plunging it into clean water. Watching rings of color form and dissipate into  what would soon become a murky pool was all part of the fun. I’ve painted all my life and putting down on paper the elusive images in your head can be both joyous and frustrating. I am so lucky to have art in my life.

COPYRIGHT ©2025 PAMELA ATKINSON – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED