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lockportlegend.com LIFE & ARTS the Lockport Legend | March 22, 2018 | 23 Pat Mulcrone joined The Artist Guild of Lockport this past year What media do you work with the most? I do acrylic painting almost exclusively now. I did oils and watercolors in Mulcrone college, but I find that the best of both worlds are found in acrylics, because you can paint really thick or in very thin glazes. And I’m also getting into thick acrylic gels recently. Getting to know Pat Mulcrone How did you get into art? I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a young kid. You could always find me off in a corner with my sketch pad and pencil. I spent a lot of time drawing my hands, or portraits of my friends. I loved it when I got my first box of Crayola 64s and it’s kind of been an obsession ever since. Do you do art full-time or is it more of a hobby? I studied graphic design and illustration at St. Xavier in Chicago, and I didn’t graduate until I was almost 40, but it was lucky because I got to learn all of the computer graphics programs which were coming into the forefront at that time. So, I did graphics for several years, worked in that field, and then I was out of the field for several years while my kids were growing up. Now my kids are grown, and I get to really delve back into my painting and my design, which is my full-time endeavor now. I’m in the studio every day, and I love it. When did you join The Artist Guild of Lockport? “October Girl” is a digital illustration depicting Pat Mulcrone’s mother in the 1940s. I’ve been a member of the guild for less than a year, and I’m really, really happy to have found such a generous and welcoming group of people who love art as much as I do. I felt very at home right away, and the opportunity to show my art at the Flower of Life Gallery is a dream come true for me. I’m having a show there, which is opening on Aug. 18 and running through Sept. 16, so shout out to Larry Brogan and Misty Soderholm. Are there any artists in the guild who you admire? I’m really just getting to know a lot of the local artists, but I really admire the work of Ed Smith, Robert Ryan, Larry Brogan, Rich Green, Doug Klauba and Sindee Viano. What is the toughest part of art for you? The toughest part for me is kind of two-fold. Sometimes a piece or work doesn’t come off as I planned it. I can normally see a finished piece in my head, and I can draw it out and plan for the colors and work really hard, and then sometimes it still comes out mediocre. And that can be very frustrating. And other times I can pick up a brush and the painting practically paints itself. But I think most artistic endeavors are that way, you just have to keep working. Secondly, promoting myself is something I struggled with. When you’re doing what you really love, it’s hard to put a price tag on it. But it’s work and you have to sell it if you want to be a business. I think that real art buyers do understand this though, and understand the hours that go into a piece. What part of art comes most naturally to you? It’s very freeing. Hours can go by and you don’t really realize it. It’s almost like time stands still when I’m painting. You can do some good work in that mindset. I also do digital illustration, which is a whole different way to work, and I find that the digital aspect and the painting aspect can work off each other. If I’m having problems with a painting, I can turn to the digital and it will actually help me, and vice versa. What are your future goals for your art? My show in August. I paint in two ways. I tend to paint very tight realistically, and recently I’ve been getting into more abstract works right now. For the future, I’m kind of trying to meld the abstract and the real. And I’d like to just get my stuff out there more. How would you describe your own style? I think my style is probably moody. Sometimes it’s One of Pat Mulcrone’s favorite pieces is this portrait of her son, titled “Portrait of Sam.” Photos submitted very light and playful, and sometimes it’s very muted and dark. I love the interplay of color, light and shadow, probably because I have really bad eyesight. And I love how a piece of art can make you feel, which is kind of the point of art isn’t it? When someone’s art appeals to me, it’s usually because it’s very strong emotionally. Where do you get your inspiration from? My inspiration comes from everything around me. I watch the sky a lot, and I people-watch a lot, and as I’m doing this, I’m usually plotting out sketches and color schemes. I’m really drawn to children — my own children, other people’s children that I’ve watched on playgrounds or what not. The innocence is so inspiring. And I love children’s illustrations. I’ve also written and illustrated a children’s book, which I’ve been sending around to publishers, so my fingers are crossed. If that doesn’t sell, I’ll probably self publish. What is your favorite part of the artistic process? My favorite part of the artistic process is just the hours lost in the studio, and the anticipation of how a piece will turn out — sometimes it’s a surprise. I actually love color-mixing; I love mixing paints. What are some of your favorite pieces you’ve created? I would say my favorite pieces are my portraits, especially my one of my son Samuel. And a digital portrait of my mom from the 1940s. “Silent Night” and my first abstract. But in some respects I’m just never satisfied. I’m still waiting to make that masterpiece. Interview by Editor Max Lapthorne