Pleased to meet you

Patricia Joyce · 09-04-2003, 03:22 PM

I am eager to introduce myself to all of you on the forum. First let me explain that, although my legal name is Patricia Meyers, I will soon be returning to my maiden/artist name, Pat Joyce, which I prefer to be called. It is exciting to become a member as I have been devouring all of the threads for months and learning so much.

I must commend Cynthia on her work establishing and maintaining SOG, the perfect 21st century artist's salon. I am honored to be amongst tremendously talented and prolific portrait artists! How fortunate we all are to have this forum. Keep up this invaluable work, Cynthia!!

In spite of my advancing middle years (48, UGH!) I must refer to myself as a student. While I am working full time as an accountant the facility here has gifted me with free studio space and great moral support (OK, I know you are curious, I work in a convent!!). After raising two beautiful sons (if I do say so myself!!), ages 25 and 21 I finally can pursue my life-long dream to study portraiture. In the past year I have taken several drawing and painting classes and next month I begin my first portrait drawing class. All that I have learned has been self-directed. In January I started attending a life drawing class through the Cleveland Institute of Art. But I have realized the greatest growth this summer, reading EVERYTHING on this forum, then returning to my studio to draw. I am trying to complete 2,000 hours of drawing before taking another oil class (it was a very humbling/fumbling six week class in portrait painting!)

Attached is my latest, completed commission. "Molly" is the best I've done and has resulted in two more commissions in just a couple weeks. I will post her on the Critique section later today or this weekend, when I get the opportunity. I look forward to "meeting" each of you, here on the forum and hopefully at workshops in the coming months!

Sincerely honored to be amongst you,
Pat Joyce

Jeff Fuchs · 09-04-2003, 03:34 PM

Hi Pat. We meet again

It's good to have you aboard, and good to see someone devoted to drawing skills. I'm sure you've seen Jimmy Arroyo's work. Another devoted pencil man. So that's at least three of us working toward the same goal. Jimmy has a good head start, but we'll all get there.

Looking forward to your posts.

Patricia Joyce · 09-04-2003, 04:06 PM

Yes, nice to meet you again. You are pretty good with the pencil too. I really like the sketch of your wife posted a while back. Yes, Jimmy is incredible...we will get there some day,you and I, no doubt!

Terri Ficenec · 09-26-2003, 06:04 PM

Pat,

What a beautiful portrait! Welcome.

Patricia Joyce · 09-29-2003, 09:38 AM

Thank you, Terri. I just viewed your new website and it looks great. I really think your work is beautiful and am so amazed at what you can do with acrylics. I will enjoy watching what's on your easel develop.

Are you working as an artist full time? How much time do you get to spend on your portrait work? I'm curious, it seems your portraits get better and better with each one you do.

Have a great day,
Pat Joyce

Terri Ficenec · 09-30-2003, 12:01 AM

Pat - Thanks!

I've been painting more regularly since late May of this year - about 30 hrs/week, currently. The improvement is since discovering this forum and trying to incorporate all the fun new things it's given me to think about while painting!

So tell me, are your current commissions for drawings, or are you painting as well? I couldn't tell from your introduction whether you weren't painting at all until you drew for 2000 hours, or just holding off on the painting classes? Have you been getting commissions just by word of mouth, or are you doing some marketing? It sounds like you've got a very appreciative group of people supporting what you're doing - that's terrific! I'd love to see more of your work.

Again, welcome!