Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Patricia Lanoie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Patricia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Looking back at my artistic journey, I sometimes wish I had started my career as an artist earlier. Many of us find their true artistic maturity later in life. While some may hit their stride early on, for most, it’s a gradual process. Life experiences, emotions, and varied perspectives gained over time contribute to the depth of artistic expression. Reflecting on this, I can’t help but wonder how my art might have evolved had I begun this journey sooner. Nevertheless, I believe that artistic growth has no strict timeline, and the journey is ongoing, everything happens at the right time.

We need to give more credit to late bloomers.

Patricia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have only been considering myself as a visual artist for the past 3 years.

Prior to that I built my career as an art director, visual director, business owner, and creative consultant. Like many, I found a new art form during the early stages of the pandemic when the creative world that I was involved in up to that point completely shut down. Everything became very precarious, but at the same time I had room to think and explore.

Since I have always loved botany I decided to dive into it. As a great lover of plants, my focus is on how to immortalize their inherent ephemerality. The magic of my resin lies in its power to preserve the beauty of its subjects for eternity – revealing them in a luminous yet impenetrable light, even after they have been removed from their roots and the soil.

I share my time and work in Montreal, Bermuda, and Boston, and I am always on the lookout for new flowers to preserve. You can find me at a garden near you.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

In the early stages of my creative journey, I wish I had known about the importance of maintaining financial stability while pursuing my artistic endeavors. Someone once told me “a job is just a job”, meaning you can take non-creative contracts or jobs without diminishing your artistic ambitions. Taking non-creative jobs allowed me to secure financial stability and provide resources to invest in my craft until it could pay for itself. Making sure you find and maintain the right balance, protecting the space and energy required to create your art is the tricky part.

The idea of maintaining a side gig has proven valuable to me not only from a financial support perspective. It also exposes me to different experiences and perspectives that I can bring back to enrich my creative work. In any creative endeavor loneliness is a valid concern – I’ve discovered that broader social interactions are not only enjoyable but also a wellspring of inspiration.

Finally, a grant application may seem like a complicated administrative task at first, but it is a valuable economic resource that more people should be aware of. It’s there to help artists, you just need to do work to access them.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The incredible people I encounter through my art are what truly enriches the experience. Of course the creative process and the artwork itself is incredibly rewarding; but it’s ultimately the captivating individuals who generously open their gardens to me are what creates the inspiration. They share not just the vibrant flowers they allow me to harvest, but the stories that bloom alongside them. In addition, for those who end up with one of my pieces, hearing their personal stories of why my artwork resonated with them is very special to me.

Equally captivating is the nurturing community of fellow artists that I have met along the way. They have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric of my creative journey. Their collective passion and camaraderie provide a constant source of inspiration, turning this creative journey into a vibrant experience of shared dreams and aspirations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.patricialanoie.com
• Instagram: @patricialanoie

Image Credits
@patricialanoie