Interview with artist, Pattie Mosca

By no means do I consider myself a fine artist. I'm a funky, whimsical kind of artist - I'm all about color. I like being able to make something that will bring folks joy. I don't even aim that way - it just comes out that way.

...on what I've dubbed the "Get Nationally Recognized Tour - 2007"...I applied to do teachings at a national art retreat and got a nice rejection letter - the fact is, no one knows who I am. That bothered me - I had a good class to share. So I went through magazines and got deadlines - and I've got a list on the wall - places I'm going to submit my work so that I can get known.

Art for me is opening up other women to what they know about themselves - the stuff they've overcome...

Everything changes for me - one day it's soup and one day it's nuts.

You can have the best idea - but if you don't use it - the universe will give it to someone else - I'm not going there anymore. I'm collecting my ideas like little charms on a bracelet. I'm gonna honor the thoughts I have!

I'm a little left of center.

I never ever fit in as a kid - I was the middle child.

I'm shy - I feel uncomfortable upon meeting people at first.

My claim to fame as a middle child was beautiful penmanship. That loses it's draw through the years {laughing}. As an artist - when I was young it was considered "cute". But then it had to make way for secretarial skills. I never felt I was being allowed to follow my own path - doing art and writing.

Many years later I allowed myself to do that.

I made a drawing that has stars all over it. There's a big star at the top - that describes me. A star can't fit into a square OR a round hole - it has to fly!

I have to become comfortable again with having my photo taken...I have Alopecia {loss of hair}...my hair started falling out in circles...I finally had my son buzz it off. I got a wig and called the wig 'Sheila' - she's a nice Italian girl...I wore it for awhile - but a wig is like a hat - it's hot! I took it off - and never wore it again."

It doesn't bother me to see this one, cause I did not know it was being taken!! LOL.

I start my day with positive affirmations - my day starts out much better. I'll ask myself: "What do I need to say to myself today?"

I started doing this last year - Monday through Thursday...Friday is "Reflection Friday" - I look back over what I said to myself - what have I learned? - how can I put that to work for myself?

I can sink down to a real blue side...but I tend to want to keep myself out of that. When I get into that I have a journal - I call it my Blue Journal...I do want to honor it {the blue side} - just don't want it as part of my full life.

I found that I stopped the negative thoughts if I write about colorful things.

I just keep trying to keep myself in the present - even with "the 2007 tour" {Pattie's "Get Nationally Recognized Tour - 2007"} by trying not to project too far from here. There's a saying I like: today is a present you give yourself. I don't suggest this is easy thing to do - stay right nere, right now.

But when I do that, then I'm very content with where I am. If I project too far ahead I can get into negative - I can stop myself dead in my tracks. I've done that.

As a media culture people we're told: tomorrow is bigger. But I don't want to go further than right now, right here. My grandson helps me with that lesson - the little dude is IN the moment.

Overcoming fear. I can stop myself dead in my tracks with a self-defeatist attitude: You're not good enough, what would make you think you could do this? That's been done before...

It's hardest to stop and acknowledge - and go past it - give it it's 15 minutes of fame.

I'm dealing with that now - daily - with the "Get Nationally Recognized Tour - 2007". I'm going past the fear.

The biggest trait that most people comment on is that I give a great deal, sometimes to a fault. But I don't ever think of not doing that. I can't imagine not reaching out in one form or another.

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Anytime there's a call for artists - it's very important to me to be part of that...I do alot for nonprofits - donate lots of art.

all the murals in NOOGIELAND for the local Gilda's Club... the Breast Cancer Coalition, A Place to Bark, MS. I did 3 Animals on Parade, I did 2 bras for the Art Bra Ladies - and they both got into calendars.

Being a mother...that is one of my biggest callings - it's a huge calling for me! I did it alone for many, many years...

My husband gave me a pink robe with a red heart pin on the sleeve - he says that's me. Sometimes I get hurt. I learn something within that hurt - maybe about me, maybe about someone else.

I like humor - I've got to laugh.

I'm partial to children's books, I have been all my life. The Little Prince, Hope for the Flowers - about a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly, Max Makes a Million, the dot. There's the simplicity of them...such meaning behind them and lessons for all of us.

Lately I've been thinking of the golden rule - as humans we need to learn that a little more- we've gotten so far away from that. Back to simpler is better. Jonathan Livingston Seagull does that for me - and pop up books. I also love Gift from the Sea.