Patty Forte Linna

Daily Paintings

2011-07-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Success

2011-07-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

What is success ? And, how is it related to Angst?
Specifically, what is success for the painter? Is it selling everything you paint or liking your own work? Or is it being a painter’s painter and having the respect of your peers? Or maybe, is it as simple as being able to paint what you see in your head? We each have to define that for ourselves. I know. I just had to come up with a new definition of success because the way I was looking at success was giving me too much angst. So much so, it was actually hurting my painting.
Some days I can’t sleep because I’m so excited to paint. I wake up way too early, with images on my mind that are screaming to be put onto paper. Bounding with energy , I jump out of bed and start painting, Why do I wake up this way? Maybe it is the sheer exhilaration of creating, or is it’s because I won an award in a painting competition or I finished piece that I love and I feel confident, or my critique buddies loved my work or, or, or. Who knows? But tomorrow rolls around and I may feel like I can’t even go into my studio and start painting because, my painting was so bad the day before and I’m afraid to start something that won’t be as beautiful as it is in my head, or I received a critique that sent me down the rabbit hole or worse yet, I got a very tepid response to my new painting(s). Maybe all my friends are selling like crazy and I’m not or I saw one too many great paintings the day before and now I’m intimidated. Maybe I didn’t win an award or I didn’t even get accepted into a show, etc etc etc. You can add your own thoughts This cycle is enough to make you crazy. Is there a Painter’s Anonymous? “Hi, I’m Patty and I’m a Painter...with Angst!” And yet, the cycle continues because I love painting. I love and hate painting. Ok, sometimes I down right hate painting.
Are painters ever satisfied with their work? What makes them feel successful? I think that depends upon the painter. With some, it’s all tied in to selling. There is the attitude of, “If I sell well I am successful. If I don’t, something is wrong with my work, hence something is wrong with me.” Some judge themselves by how they compare to others.
A painter is moved by another artist’s work and they are inspired but also discouraged because they feel their work doesn’t measure up and may never measure up to what they’ve just seen. And hence, their cycle of angst begins.
I’ve been to both of these places. I’ve looked at painting from both sides now....Oh, I feel a Joni Mitchell song coming on.
Some painters I meet are rarely, if ever satisfied. They have so much angst. One friend burns her old pieces because she doesn’t want anyone to see them and honestly, her work is so great it makes you cry. Yet she has so much angst. I remember the first time I ever painted with her and telling my painting buddy, Pepper, that I thought she had angst and Pepper said, ‘No Way. She’s so good. Why would she have angst?‘ But, I knew there was angst even before we painted together because I could feel the tension in her work. And honestly, it made her work vibrate with life. Which begs the question, Does a painter need angst to create? That’s for another blog.
So where does that leave me? One day I want to paint, the next day I want to cry because I fear I’ll never be able to paint the way I want to.
I was pouring out all these thoughts to my husband one day. (well, maybe it was more than one day but, who’s counting?) He said, “This is making me depressed. You need to redefine the way you look at success. Make it simple. Once you define it, write it out, make it your goal and do it. “ Then Pepper added, “Jim’s right. You need to look at things like a man.” I remember my tennis coach in high school yelling at me saying, “Forte, you play tennis like a X!!!%#& girl.” HMMMM There might be a recurring theme here. I will explore that later.
Well for me, I’ve decided that painting daily is success. That’s it. Success is the act of daily painting. My new goal is to go into my studio and paint one small warm up painting a day. This is before I begin to paint anything else. That, pure and simple is success. And by the way, I redefined what success is not:
It’s not painting a wonderful painting, nor selling a painting, not even selling all my paintings or being known as a wonderful painter. Success is purely and simply PAINTING daily. Angst or no angst, I’m successful when I paint daily.

I’ll let you know soon if my new modus operandi has eliminated my angst. And if it has, I’ll have to admit my husband was right again!! By the way, did you ever hear that behind every successful man is a very surprised woman? haha.

And, I’m posting those little warm up paintings here for my art this month. I don’t care if they are great, or they sell, or even if they win awards! These little gems are what made me successful this week.
Here’s to your success too, however you define it.
Patty

I Just Finished My Last Painting Today

2011-04-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited. And exhausted.
I have a solo gallery show opening in two days and I just finished my last painting today....well, actually I finished two today. I have two more in my studio partially done but I had to stop at some point.
I wanted to paint at least one from the Luly Yang runway show that not only showed the model but the crowd too. I really enjoyed shooting photos of the crowd. I liked the way everything was painted but felt the overall effect was boring until I pumped up the contrast in the model's dress and also put the green glow behind the people on the right.
My second painting, well, it's just plain fun. I did a photo shoot at Luly's boutique and had the model straddle a chair like she was on a motor scooter. The wedding gown was so fabulous and lent itself to this because it was short in the front and had a long train in the back. I put her into a night scene from a photo I took in Chicago. It's romantic and edgy. I love it. I've been painting so many beautiful fashion pieces, I needed to get something going on in the city!

Patty

This is The One!

2011-03-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm posting my latest painting entitled This is The One.
It just epitomizes that feeling you have when you have searched long and hard looking for THE perfect dress or THE perfect job or THE perfect mate and you have finally found it! What satisfaction. Maybe there isn't THE perfect anything but, it feels like we are always searching for it, doesn't it? My models were my framer, Lori Knight and her lovely daughter Briana, who is also an artist.

I'll have this on display for my upcoming show at Cole Gallery, opening April 9th. see my website
for more details. pattyfortelinna.com

Win my painting! Support Art With Heart! Buy a raffle ticket!

2011-03-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

My painting, Romantic Interlude, will be raffled off to support the wonderful Seattle based charity, ART WITH HEART.    Raffle tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25 with 100 % of the proceeds going to Art with Heart.   You can purchase the tickets at Cole Gallery.   The winner will be announced on May 18th.
This painting is valued at $3200 and is framed in museum glass in a beautiful dark, wood frame.
Art with Heart is a wonderful charity whose mission is to serve at risk youth.
Come and learn more about Art with Heart, purchase a raffle ticket to win Romantic Interlude and help me celebrate the opening of my new show, focusing on the life and art of Luly Yang at the gala opening:

April 9th   6 - 9 pm
Meet Luly Yang and Steffanie Lorig (Art with Heart's founder)
Enjoy champagne and hors d' oeuvres
Cole Galley 107 5th Ave S Edmonds, WA
www.artwithheart www.colegallery.net     www.lulyyang.com   pattyfortelinna.com

Luly Yang Show

2011-03-14T22:46:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted but happy. I've been painting round the clock, getting ready for my upcoming show featuring the art and life of renowned fashion designer, Luly Yang. I wanted to post a few of my latest paintings. I've titled the one on the left, "Like A Glove". The one on the right....I call her, "Attitude".

Dogs Look Like Their Owners

2010-10-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

I've always heard it said that Dogs look like their owners. Why is that? I don't know. My dog is a
Flat Coat Retriever!
I've been told that my dog, Jones, and I look like each other. The first time a friend mentioned it I was so complemented and she said, "Uh, that wasn't really meant as a compliment". But, when you see my dog, you'll know why I feel the way I do.
My husband and son took this photo of Jones today. Wow....we even have the same mouth now!
If there is anyone out there looking for a dog, consider the Flat Coats. They are so fun and playful and they have a heart of gold. And...they look uncannily like their owners!

Ciao! I mean, Chow!!

More Toots!

2010-09-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

Exciting News!
I just won 2nd place in Painting at the Kenmore Art Festival.
Here is the piece that won, THE BREADBAKER.

Not so exciting news: I can't figure out how to blow this up so you can see it without it becoming too grainy! hmmmm

My art accepted into Juried show in Mountlake Terrace

2010-09-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have two pieces of art accepted into the 32nd Annual Juried Mountlake Terrace Art Show. Both are paintings of my beautiful mother, Jean Forte. The first is a painting of both my mom and dad when they were dating over 65 years ago. It's titled, Shoo Shoo Baby, after my father's airplane. The second piece is from an old black and white photo of my mom on the roof of my parent's apartment building. She was in a bathing suit. I changed the clothes and background to make her into a nightclub singer. It's titled, Sentimental Journey, after one of their favorite songs. I love painting my parents. They are both such wonderful people and quite easy on the eyes, if I say so myself.
October 2, 2010 is the Show Opening. There will be artist demos, a wine tasting event and silent auction from 6 - 9pm.

The address of the event is 23300 58th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace, WA. Come if you can. I'd love to see you there. It will be fun. Cheers!

Toots! Toots! Toots!

2010-09-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

Tooting My Own Horn

My painting " Aperetif in Luxembourg" was selected to be in the jury's top 15 % of favorites in the February FineArtView's painting competion. There were some fabulous painter's included so I feel honored! Here's the painting.

New Paintings

2010-08-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

I just finished two paintings with a wonderful new model, Lauren. I just can't seem to get away from painting a single woman in a bar. Lauren is under 21 so we got kicked out of a couple of bars before we finally found Pogacha's outdoor dining that seated customers under 21. Getting thrown out of places for taking photos has become routine for me. I've been kicked out Starbucks, Daphnes and Nordstroms just to name a few! My good spirited model seemed to take it all in stride and just kept posing as we moved from place to place.

Thank You!

2010-07-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

I just want to thank all of you who support me and my art. I feel so grateful.

The Bellevue festival was so fun. I saw many old friends, met new ones....some almost brand new to this world, sold my work and had a wonderful time at the festival. I have a real FAN too! A wonderful woman showed up with ALL my postcards I've ever sent out. She kept them all and she came just to see me. Wow, I have a real live Fan besides you mom!!

Thank you Thank you Thank you to everyone who made my weekend so fabulous! Patty

Bellevue Art Festival

2010-07-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! This weekend is the Bellevue Art Festival.
My booth is on the corner of Bellevue Way & NE 8th St, in the Cost Plus parking lot.
The hours of the festival are: Friday and Saturday 10 - 8 and Sunday 10 - 6.
Here is a sample of work I'll have at the festival.
The first piece is sized 18 x 24 and is titled, Le Monde, after the French newspaper that the man is reading. The second is a small piece that I've revisited after 10 years. It's 8 x 10 and is titled, The Waiter ll.
Hope to see you at the festival.

Cheers! Patty

Preservation Kitchen

2010-07-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Absinthe Party was really fun. If you like black licorice I think you'll like Absinthe. Be aware...it is really strong. I had a small glass, cut with champagne and sugar and syrup and I woke up with a whopper of a headache.
I'm uploading some of the photos. Pepper and I were there and our art was hanging all throughout the bar and cafe. Liana, our elusive third partner, made an appearance. I've posted a pic of her with our dear friends, Dick and Sharon Smith. Eric, Lori and Briana Knight came. Briana is a wonderful fiber artist and painter that will be next door to me at the Bellevue Art Festival next weekend. Also posting a pic of my dear friend, who is really like my little sister, only taller, Darlene "Sophie" Kroon and her friend, Jenna.

New Work

2010-07-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my latest paintings. The top one is a large piece (29 x 18) and I've titled it, The Fabric of her Dreams. A lovely UW coed named Nicole was my model. She made the entire process of painting and photographing so easy. I took hundreds photos of her and you'll be seeing her again soon. The bottom right painting is one of my all time favorites. I love the subtle colors in it and the fluidity of the waiters. It's titled, Afternoon at the de Orsay Museum. The bottom right is a titled, Arch de Triumph. I love Paris at night. I love the amazing lighting and the ambiance it creates. I wanted to capture the romance of the city in this piece.

Artists With Attitude

2010-07-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh....I am on a brand new adventure with my crazy artist friends. Pepper Peterson and I wanted to collaborate and start a joint site that showcases both of our art together. We roped in our third crazy friend, Liana Bennett, without giving her an opportunity to decline. How can you say no to two women that won't give you a word in edgewise? Our goal with our new site was simple really. We wanted to commit to painting 2 - 3 small paintings per week and post them on our blog. In addition, we wanted to blog about the issues that artists face such as...being afraid of the canvas, afraid of success, afraid of failure, and so many more. In fact, we started out with just a blog called, PaintersWithIssues.blogspot.com.

But, before we knew it, our own personal "issues" took over and we didn't even have time to work on our paintings or really get our cool blog off the ground BEFORE we changed directions and decided we wanted a website that includes more than painters. We wanted to include all artists so we created, ArtistsWithAttitudes.com.
Pepper and I are gung ho! Really excited and ready to roll. Liana, not so much. We just needed her paintings and a picture of herself and we agreed to do the rest to get our site off the ground. She didn't have a photo, was way too busy to get us what we needed, so we just improvised. (See our artist rendition of her above). How do you like it?

We really want to have fun with this site. We will showcase our art and we will also be showcasing the art of a different artist every month. We are planning to post a new video update monthly and hopefully you'll see us around town as we will be out and about on various adventures. Look for Liana. I don't think you can miss her! We'll keep you posted!

Preservation Kitchen

2010-07-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm teaming up with my crazy girlfriends at Preservation Kitchen this weekend. My fellow artists, Pepper Peterson and Liana Bennett, will join me there to showcase our latest work and to introduce you to a wonderful restaurant. The owners, Susan and Gary Southwick, have operated the Ale House in Bothell for several years.   I just happened to visit on the day they were creating a new menu for their casual dining and they pleaded, no needed , well, not even sure they asked but I was there for them to help taste their newly created menu. Who cares that I had just come from lunch. Trust me on this one...the food is fabulous and worth your trip alone! But, along with great food, will be us....three crazy, Italian artists, our newest work and two tasting parties:
Saturday, July 17 from 6 - 9 Absinthe Tasting
Sunday, July 18 from 4 - 7 Wine Tasting

Preservation Kitchen is located at 17121 Bothell Way NE, Bothell 98011, next door to the Yakima Fruit Market.   See their site for more information.   www.preservationkitchen.com

See our (me, Pepper & Liana) brand new , really fun site for more information on us.
www. ArtistsWithAttitude.com
Cheers!    Patty

The two paintings above were from Rush St in downtown Chicago. I've been painting smaller pieces
(anywhere from 6 x 6 to 9 x 12) as studies for larger sized paintings. I've included both the small and larger one on this post. The top one is called, Inside or Out, and is 20 x 16. The smaller one is 7 x 5 and is titled, If Only.

Luly Yang

2010-07-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Beautiful and Romantic News
I'm working with the fabulously talented Luly Yang, offering commissions in her Seattle boutique. If you are not familiar with her work you are in for a treat. ( see lulyyang.com ) She's a high end fashion designer working with the motto that clothes should be like people, as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. I'm excited to collaborate with her because one of my passions is to paint the longings of the human heart and specifically the longing for romance and beauty.
I painted live at Luly's Spring Tea fashion show this past May. It was wonderful. The beauty of the entire day was overwhelming and gave me much subject matter to work with. Cole Gallery in downtown Edmonds, WA, will host my One Woman Show, showcasing Luly and her work from concept to finish, in January 2011. I've already painted a few small pieces for the show in January. The one on the left is called, "Visions of Sugarplums..." It's a small 10 x 8. I wanted to capture the delight of a little girl's dream dress. The painting on the right is also small. It's a 12 x 6 of one of the wedding dresses in Luly's boutique. I've named it, In My Sweetest of Dreams.

When it Rains it Pours

2010-07-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

I participated in the Edmond's Arts Festival over Father's Day weekend.   I love this venue for many reasons.   It's right in my backyard.   It's the first art festival I've ever participated in. It's where I won my first painting award. I painted the poster for the festival one year. I love the people who run it.   It has a view of Puget Sound.   I get to reconnect with so many friends.    Fun all the way around.
This year though, I had Johnny Rain Cloud hanging over my head. I felt like I could have been in the Jim Carey movie, The Truman Show.
Friday and Saturday were typical, fun days. The weather was cool but no rain!   Sunday came with a forecast for rain. Nothing new in Seattle. It wasn't raining outside when I opened my booth in the morning....but it was raining INSIDE my booth....actually raining!   It could have been a movie set...it was so hilarious. People were dry walking around the festival until they came into my booth to get rained on. I was amused and fascinated but quickly sprung into action to save my paintings as they were getting the worst end of this phenomenon. My husband came to put a tarp over my tent but realized we had to close up shop or loose every painting.   So, literally, with Johnny Rain Cloud, over my head I ran every painting I had off the field and headed home just a few minutes after it started raining outside my booth!
My good friend who generously gave me her new(er) tent since she quit doing art festivals, actually gave me a tent that was Shade Resistant not Rain Resistant!
Later, I received this email from one of the wonderful directors who helped me :

"Please accept my apology for the way things turned out for you at the Edmonds Arts Festival. I sincerely hope that you didn't suffer a substantial financial loss, Patty. Your art is quite extraordinary, as is your remarkable spirit.   Despite the tragedy of such a fine artist packing up and leaving our Festival under those circumstances, I think I will always remember with a smile your persistent cheerfulness and childlike enjoyment of the irony of having borrowed a booth that actually rains on the inside when it's raining on the outside. I admire and respect your indomitable spirit, evident in your impulse to respond first to the irony of your situation instead of just throwing up your hands in despair or giving in to anger. Nice job.

Ci vediamo "

I'm posting a small painting I titled, "After the Rain".

My New Blog! Hello Blog World!

2010-04-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hello there bloggers! I'm new to this world and I can't wait to meet everyone.
Oh my gosh....here I am, a verbal, eye contact kind of communicator in a world of keys on a silent computer. Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
I'm still excited even if I can't hear you or see you...yet!
I decided to take on a new challenge of painting a small pastel daily (or, almost daily).
I just purchased the domain, A Painting A Day Or Not! I thought of this title because my aunt used to run an antique business that posted, not the typical Open/Closed sign, but rather one that embodied her unique view of running a business called, "By Chance or By Appointment".
I like it. I've established a new goal and at the same time given myself grace in case I just can't seem to paint daily....which, unfortunately has been the case this week. I might have the Swine Flu. It came on within hours. Or, I might just be dramatic and have a regular run on the mill flu. Anyway...here I am 5 days into it and hardly any daily painting going on. But, my next blog will include my newest, daily painting.
This is going to be fun.
Till then, Be blessed! Patty