We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Patty Toner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Patty, appreciate you joining 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.
I’m a self-taught artist and began making art intentionally in 2019. My first big project was doing illustrations for a friend who was publishing her first cookbook. I had always been creative and artistic but this was the first time I was doing something publically. It was a really transformative experience and I gained the confidence to explore my creativity and develop my art further.
Throughout the pandemic, with two young children now at home and continuing to work my 9-5 job remotely, I created art in the margins of the day and focused on finding my style and voice as an artist and painter. I did online courses, researched and learned all I could about creating a website, how to show up on social media and what it meant to become a professional artist.
In 2021 we moved our family across the country as we were then able to work remotely and be closer to family in Nova Scotia. I continued to paint and began doing commissions for friends and family. Throughout that time I found that abstract art was what I loved to make most.
I also took a big risk financially and emotionally and put together my first solo art show at a local cafe. I created a collection of abstract artworks on canvas, put a show together and invited those closest to me to attend. I even reached out to local media and pitched the event for a feature in a magazine and the newspaper. The support from friends and family was huge and it was very heartwarming. My twin sister even flew across the country with her infant daughter to surprise me for the show!
Professionally not much came from that solo art show, I made a couple of sales but had very little exposure. I hired a professional local photographer to capture the event so I could use the images on my website and in social media which I feel like was a good investment. I also wanted to capture it because I was proud of myself for doing it. It was a big stretch to announce to the world I was an artist and to invite them to my show. I learned a lot from the experience and the courage it took for me to take that big step, regardless of the outcome.
The next big risk was in October 2022 when I left my career in the corporate sector to pursue my art career full-time. I had been creating art part-time for about three years at that point and decided it was time to go all in. I had built up a body of work and my confidence to give myself permission to take the risk. My husband was onboard and I just knew I couldn’t look back on my life without having at least tried.
It’s been over two years now since I took that risk and to say I’ve grown would be an understatement. I couldn’t have anticipated the highs and lows that have come through this journey. Perseverance and dedication are two words that come to mind when I think about what it takes to follow through on your dreams. You have to have a vision for yourself in your mind and continue working towards that. You need to be clear on why you are doing it, keep your expectations reasonable and be open to surprises along the way. It’s hard to say how it turns out, I’m still in the middle of it! It’s beautiful and messy but also so rewarding. It really is what life is all about.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a contemporary abstract artist living on the East Coast of Canada. Painting from my home studio, I create primarily using acrylic and oil sticks on canvas and birch wood panels. I am a self-taught artist and have always been a creative person. Overtime I have realized creating abstract art allows me the most freedom of expression.
My work is both a form of self-expression and self-creation. Inspired by nature and the world around me, I believe art connects us through a unique and universal language. My aim is to capture that language through art, where it’s both unspoken and representational. I incorporate colours, textures and shapes into abstract art with a goal for you to feel that connection through each piece of work. Interior design is a passion of mine and I create art by imagining the well-designed spaces these pieces could live in. How art enhances a space and helps create an overall sense of place.
Duality is also a theme throughout my work. Beautiful and Messy. Playful and Deep. Discovering the unknown while finding calm the familiar. I believe art is a sensory experience integrating the human experience with our physical surroundings.
I am most proud of entering an industry I was not familiar with but one that I’m deeply drawn to being a part of. Without an art degree or tangible experience in the industry before I began, it could have deterred me from putting myself and my art forward. I haven’t let any obstacles or insecurities stop me from betting on myself and create art I’m proud of. My standard for good art is that I truly love each completed piece and would want it for my home, otherwise I don’t offer it to others. I believe creating art should be fun and each piece should make you feel something. It should catch your attention and make you ask questions. My motto for life is much the same.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society often places value on things that are fast, cheap and delivered to your front door in 24 hours. People don’t often take time to look around and see how artists and creatives enhance their lives and their communities through their art. Convenience is great and we all look for ways to make our lives easier. That said, when it comes to artists and supporting a creative ecosystem, take the time to shop local. Connect with artists’ work that resonates with you and collect meaningful, hand-crafted items as much as possible. There are many ways you can support artists, purchasing from them is only one way. In the end, artists need to make a living and support themselves in the creative process.
If someone in your life is an artist or creative, understand it’s a vulnerable place to be sometimes. You are creating from a soul level and any words of encouragement or interest you can offer an artist goes a long way. Creativity can feel messy sometimes, especially when you are just beginning. You are trying to figure out what you want to make and why, and doubt and insecurity can creep in. With a network of support and encouragement, artists and creatives will have the confidence to keep going. We turn to art at big moments of our lives, we look for meaning and try to make sense of things. Art helps us do that, it connects us.
Sharing stories about the creative process, life as a creative and the real life journey people go on is so very important. The world is full of stories but you only often see the end result, not the years of work that went in to create that outcome. Most people are in the middle of that journey and sharing lessons learned and inspiration through story is both supportive and generous. Artists and creatives help connect us and make the world a more beautiful place, it’s vital we support them in this work.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission is to create beauty in the world, in my own unique way, and hopefully inspire others to do the same. My mission is to remind myself of the infinite possibilities before me, to use the privilege I have to make those choices and to enjoy myself as much as possible.
I believe deeply that people should pursue whatever career/hobby/activities that brings them the most joy. For me that’s creating art. Growing up many of us are often told to go to university and get a job, preferably one with a pension. While that is the path many take, and the one I took for 15 + years, I had to chart my own path once I was called to do so. Leaving something you know for something totally unknown is scary. It shakes your foundation, makes you question yourself and your abilities. It also teaches you that you can have, do and be anything you put your mind to. That in time, the things you were terrified of feel normal now. That life is meant to be lived and if you are being called to do something different, you should do it. You can always change your mind. Each day you can make a choice to continue or not but what matters is that you tried.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pattytoner.com
- Instagram: @pattytonerart
Image Credits
https://lapierrephotography.com/