We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Patti Dougherty. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Patti below.

Patti , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In 2020 I retired from my bead and jewelry business. It was an amazing career, and I loved being part of the Glass community. Participating in craft shows and teaching my craft enabled me to support myself. The design of the jewelry, the marketing, and the teaching of my craft to metalsmith’s and glassmakers became more challenging. It was time to get back to the painting that I had studied at Maryland Institute College of Art during graduate school.

Patti , 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?

My past jewelry business and teaching of the craft was a challenge, yet satisfying. It evolved slowly after my position at Academy of Natural Science was finished. My newest work is evolving. I was looking forward to making art work that is portable. As I had many travel plans. Almost 5 years after the start this new work it is beginning to gel. My message and inspiration has not changed, but the medium has changed. In this time of climate change it is now more than ever essential to concentrate on the fragile environment. I am painting and making small sculptures. They are abstractions of marine creatures and the underwater world. I want to draw the viewers attention to this mission. I am hopeful that I will build a following for this new work, and inspire viewers.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Change is difficult no matter what your field is or has become. Making the artwork is the most important. Many think a studio is essential. It is not. The ability to create anywhere (although a challenge) is possible. Continuity is most important. Doing something daily (keeping a time slot for creative work) and ignoring the many details of day to day life. This is necessary to have a consistent dialogue with your artwork. I have worked on kitchen tables, outside at campgrounds and in parks and reserves.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I would like the viewers to see the work and admire and protect our marine environment. It’s beauty, fragility, and perhaps volunteer for nature organizations. Become a citizen scientist. There is so much we can do to make the change necessary for a healthy ecosystem.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.inliquid.org/artist/dougherty-patti-painting
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.glass/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollowbeads/