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

Pattie, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Everything I learned about being a professional artist was through observing successful artists on social media. I am voracious in asking questions and approaching this job with tons of curiosity. There can be no ego when it comes to starting a business. It’s all about learning from other people’s mistakes as well as your own. I listen to plenty of podcasts that focus on the business side of art and interact with as many artists as I can whenever I need help. Starting out, there was a ton of trial and error, but that’s to be expected. I approached this job just like any entrepreneur would approach opening their own business. I did tons of research, observed, listened, learned and then painted!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a Chicago-based contemporary artist.

Some background about me: I am not a born artist, but my painting skills hibernated inside of me until it randomly emerged in 2020, just before I turned 40. I had dabbled in painting and sketching here and there, but it was never anything I took seriously. And then in my mid 30s, I became mostly bedridden from being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I figured that the fun part of life was over and that I’d spend the rest of my life going to doctors offices and staring up at the ceiling, waiting for the pain to stop. When my health began to improve in 2020, I picked up a paintbrush again and noticed that my ability to paint had dramatically improved since before I was bedridden, I have no explanation other than a deep knowing that I am meant to create. I consider every painting to come from a higher purpose.

I find myself watching each painting come together as if by magic. For me, painting is a persistent exercise in patience, determination and forgiveness. I believe that mistakes in art don’t exist, and I often remind myself to let go and allow the painting to form a bit on its own instead of taking control from beginning to end. Painting is a perpetual exercise in acceptance and centeredness, a lesson I learned during very difficult years. Hardly anything in this world is in our control, and once I understood this, I found peace.

I hope my art can inspire people to believe that something good can emerge out of even the darkest moments. Any limitations/hardships that exist is simply a sign to pause and allow life to unfold in a new way. I sell my work online through my Etsy site, PattieHorwitzArt, and also take commissions.

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

I love knowing that someone connected with my art so much that they were willing to part with something of theirs (money) to have something that came from my own hands and imagination . It’s the ultimate compliment as an artist.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I’m not sure why anyone would choose an NFT over a physical piece of art that can personalize and beautify a home. I would love to learn more from people who have purchased them to find out what the fuss is about and if they’re worth all the hype.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/PattieHorwitzArt
• Instagram: @paintings_by_pattie
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaintingsByPattie
• Twitter: @PattieHorwitz