What, Why, How: Patricia Gapske

What:

I’m an artist who loves to draw, take photographs and create sculptures, and within each of those is a subcategory of different materials and processes that I use. I used to think that I needed to focus all of my energy on one specific medium but that never worked for me. I felt like I was holding my creativeness captive for others’ ideals and not my own. I took an art class in high school then eventually I took a beginning drawing class in college, and I was hooked. I graduated with a degree in fine art printmaking because it’s what I loved to do at the time. I’m currently working on a series of digital photo compilations using my photos and a drawing/painting app on my iPad. I’ve participated in many juried art shows, Friday night art hops, ArtPrize in Grand Rapids Michigan. I have been commissioned to create many different pieces; one sculpture is in the permanent collection at an art center in Michigan and several of my sculptures were featured in a book called Contemporary Sculptors: 84 International Artists.

Why:

The need to create has been a huge part of who I am since my first art class. I have to get my ideas out, my brain is constantly being barraged with ideas of things to create; of course I don’t act on all of them, but I do try to sketch out rough drafts to at least save it for later. Otherwise it evaporates in to the universe. I try to remember to carry my camera with me in case I see something I have to photograph.

One day while out driving I came across a field of sandhill cranes, there had to be at least 100 of them, so I pulled over and took some photos. I was so thrilled to finally capture them up close! I am constantly looking and analyzing things, nature, angles, dewdrops on the grass and on flowers, looking for reflections, interactions and more. I specifically love macro photography because I feel like I can show the world an intricacy in nature that most don’t look for or see. I also tend to gravitate towards combining figurative art and nature, I feel like the two compliment each other. We live with nature, we breathe and eat nature; it’s as much a part of us as we are a part of it.

How:

I am fortunate to have all the tools I need to create what I want. I have a studio in my basement with a wide array of art supplies, an electric kiln in my garage for firing clay, and computers to process photos and work on digital compositions. I go through phases of what I like to work on. Last year I completed a 365 nature photography project where I took a photo of nature every day for 365 days, and, once that was finished, I made a book of the photos using an online service. 

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Bio

Patricia Gapske is an artist from Kalamazoo Michigan who dabbles in many different mediums such as photography, clay, drawing and collage. She loves nature and the human figure and will often incorporate a combination of the two in her art using herself as the model and subject. Patricia’s photography and sculpture have been in numerous juried art shows, she has participated in Grand Rapids Art Prize and also in many of Kalamazoo’s monthly Art Hops. She has created commission work for various clients and several of her sculptures were included in a book called Contemporary Sculptors: 84 International Artists. Patricia has lived in Kalamazoo most of her life, she is married and has two grown children.

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