Artist Spotlight: Patty Vickers

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

There was always a special appreciation for art in the heart of Patty Vickers, a truth that is evident in the collection of art and items she has accumulated over the years. Indeed, she loved art so much that she attended aseveral art and photography courses while in college, with the hopes of honing her skills.
“I loved the photography class,” she recalls, “but I was never that good at it. And the painting class was frustrating because it consisted of painting still life such as concrete blocks and animal skeletons. You had no control over what you wanted to paint. It ended my art class endeavors.”
Even though her experiences with art lessons were over, her journey as an artist was far from it. Throughout her life,Vickers has enjoyed experimenting with a variety of mediums, including stained glass, concrete yard art and she even painted several ceramic tile walls in the home that she built with her husband 25 years ago. As much as she enjoyed creating works of art, however, Vickers could not deny that finding the time to dedicate to her art was a challenge.
“While I was employed, I found it hard to find the time to be creative,” admits Vickers, who worked full-time for the Florida Department of Transportation. “My job was very demanding, and it often seeped into my private time.”
Four years ago, she retired from her position at FDOT, and says that the transition was difficult at first.
“I was lucky to have worked with a great group of people,” she says, “and I have really missed them since my retirement. The first two years after I retired, I just kept thinking that I needed to go back to work. It's very lonely at times, because my husband and I had no children due to health issues. Our children have always been our pets. Sometimes you just need the human connection.”
One day, while Vickers was occupying her free time doing some deep cleaning, she came across an old paint set and a cheap wood burner that she had tucked away years ago in storage. Without much else to do, she began playing around with the supplies, and rekindled her love of art that she had once harbored. For the last two years, Vickers has been busy creating oil paintings, wood burnings and creating bas relief sculptures.
While her new art hobbies give her an outlet for her spare time in retirement, she still craved the human connection, and began taking a more active approach to finding like-minded individuals who she could share her love of art with.
“My husband and I have joined several local art galleries, and we visit many others around the local area that have no membership availability,” she says. “This is how I stumbled upon Jefferson Arts Gallery, and I'm so glad I did! The people here are so down to earth, and they truly want to help.”
She speaks highly of the gallery's willingness to help not just adult artists who are seeking classes and materials for their work, but also children who are seeking classes and mentorship within the community.
“Looking back,” she muses, speaking of her experience in the disappointing college art courses years ago, “I know that I did pick up knowledge from the class. I realize that if you are really serious about learning a skill, the process is not always easy or fun, but there is always a payoff in the end.”
The payoff for Vickers is a contentment in her work, as well as significant growth in her abilities.
“Now I do art full time, and I see improvement on a daily basis,” she reveals. “I truly love it; it is so exciting to watch a painting come to life. The hard part is finding something that calls you to paint it. To me, that is mostly wildlife and natural Florida landscapes.”
This March, in accordance to Monticello's Second Saturday event, The Jefferson Arts Gallery will be hosting an art exhibit featuring some of Vickers' work. Her exhibit, titled Scenes of Nature, captures the beauty and serenity of Florida landscapes and wilderness. Guests are invited to come down to the gallery and enjoy refreshments from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. This exhibit will be on display through April 1, and can be viewed during the gallery's regular hours, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., or by appointment. To make an appointment, you may call (850) 997-3311. The Jefferson Arts Gallery is located at 575 W. Washington St., in Monticello.
While Patty Vickers was not born in Monticello, she and her sister grew up in the area, and recall many wonderful memories of skating at the Red Barn skating rink with local friends, and she has always had a soft spot for the town. When she isn't busy doing artwork, she and her husband enjoy camping, kayaking, and riding motorcycles. They also love to garden together. Although all of these activities takes up a considerable amount of time, for Patty, there's always time for art and spending time at the gallery.
“It's nice to be around people that have similar interests,” she says of the gallery. “If I had known that I would love it so much, I would have tried harder to make time for art when I was working!”
She often shares her work on her social media, and has even sold several pieces online, but her main passion for showing her work is art festivals, as she says they provide her with a good outlet.
“Anyone that is interested in contacting me about a piece of my art or consigning a piece can contact me through the Jefferson Arts Gallery,” says Vickers. “Also, they can go by and pick up one of my cards and/or get my phone number, email or address from the gallery. I would love to have you all come out and survey my work, take a piece home with you, or ask me about doing a piece specifically for you.”
For anyone who would like to meet the artist, she will be present at the gallery during the opening of her exhibit during the March 11 opening, and will also be there every Saturday through the month of March. If you would like to meet her at the gallery any other day for a private showing, you may contact her at pattyvickers55@gmail.com.