Valley artist says she’s a work in progress

Patty Halley’s art career began when she received a scholarship to Columbus School of Art and Design in Ohio. Later, she joined the Army where, she said, her artistic abilities allowed her to make “some extra money by drawing portraits in charcoal and pastel.”

That was 32 years ago and coincided with when she met her husband, who she said is the “biggest influence of all” in her art career. They settled down with their daughter, living in Palmer in a beautiful house, just perfect for entertaining.

Their home has become the setting for many social art gatherings that, in retrospect, are memorable for a variety of reasons.

“The last time I had some artist friends over, Eric Deeter was kind enough to join us,” she said. “I showed him a few of my works in progress and I’ll always remember how he would get excited when he’d see glimpses of red in my paintings. Now, I always think of him when I use red ‘eye candy.’ He was so generous in giving so many artists encouragement. Our community lost a wonderful friend and artist when he passed away.”

A few years back, the Halley home was the setting for the 50th birthday party for Enrique Badaro Nedal, a Fulbright Scholar from Uruguay, who came to Alaska to teach at Mat-Su College in the Fine Arts Department. There were numerous artists there, including theater set designers, musicians and visual artists who will long remember the fun of that relaxed setting with a wonderful host and hostess, and sharing laughter that generated lasting artistic bonding.

Recently, Patty and her husband purchased and renovated a home on five acres of land in Palmer. Her husband explained, “I want to put a ceiling over the dining room and make you a studio in the loft.”

Patty could not contain herself. She reveals her emotions: “I teared up right away and was speechless. It’s finished now and I can’t wait to use it and smell the odor of oil paint waft from it.”

She values her artist friends and affiliations. “I probably wouldn’t be painting now without the encouragement I received when I became a part of the Valley Fine Arts Association when it began about six years ago.

“The first president, Judith Sharpe-Levy, dragged me by the hair and made sure I participated in everything the organization had to offer. I became the first treasurer and then secretary for a couple of years.

“Because of this group, as well as the Palmer Arts Council and the Valley Arts Alliance, I found the encouragement that all artists need and received numerous pearls of wisdom from fellow artists. I firmly believe that every artist needs to be plugged in with other artists in the community. Being a part of an art group also gives you opportunities to show your work in different venues.”

Her show Saturday, during the Valley Second Saturday, begins with an opening from 1 to 3 p.m.

“The title of my show at Primrose Retirement Community is called ‘The Power of a Moment.’ I plan to show several paintings I hope show emotion and feeling as I tried to capture a glimpse in time of God’s creation,” she said.

She added, “I feel myself evolving as an artist. I used to only paint things I thought others would like.”

She professes her sincerity, saying, “I’m drawn to things that only speak to me spiritually. I’m finding this occurs most frequently when doing landscapes.”

She references several Bible verses. One is Luke 19:40, where Jesus portrayed a powerful image saying, “the very stones would cry out” and “all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).

“Paradoxically, I’m finding people like my work more now than before. It takes great courage to put yourself ‘out there’ for others to evaluate and critique your work. Its so personal,” she said. “My biggest challenge was overcoming my own insecurities about my work.”

She maintains her true love is working in oil, where she is “applying layer upon layer of color, beginning with an underpainting. When the painting is almost finished, I like to use intense color somewhere in the piece.”

She recalls something one of her mentors, Chuck McLaughlin, from North Carolina, told her while she was taking a workshop at Mat-Su College, “Do something original. Don’t listen to those voices in your head that tell you it has to be a certain way!”

From him, “I learned that I just need to keep putting the brush in the paint and apply it to the paper. Loosen up and sometimes you win the jackpot coming up with happy accidents. I like to think of myself as a work in progress.”

Suzanne Bach teaches art at Mat-Su College.