Meet Pat Redding Scanlon

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pat Redding Scanlon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

All right, so we’re so thrilled to have Pat Redding with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic is my learning mindset guiding me to reinvent myself as an artist, to experiment with emerging media, to get better at the artmaking processes and to find ways to use/not waste materials. I love to lose myself in the flow of making.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m at a crossroads. Thank you for allowing me to share my story! I’m deciding what direction(s) to go. I have experimented with various media and I have extensive experience in comics and animation.

In 2023 and 2024 as the season opens at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, I have painted 8 large canvas banners. I use elements of traditional sideshow banners such as the act name ribboning across the top, an alluring likeness of a featured performer, a limited-palette frame (like curtains or chains) around the edges, a smartass comment in a circle off to the side (usually lower down in the composition) and often a vintage architectural or landscape silhouette spanning the bottom. The performers might be clowns, sword swallowers, trapeze artists, fire eaters, and so on. I’m hoping the nonprofit Coney Island will want more big pictures next spring! I sell small versions of these in the gift shop there.

I’m planning an art show at another venue in the late winter 2025: I’m inspired by the antique flea circus. Mutant bugs will be the talent in this art show. I’m making different swags, bunting and large banners where the insects will be showing off their superpowers with a lot of visual puns. I’ll be doing a lot of bright colored fabric patchwork for the framing devices. No animals will be hurt in the process!

At Coney Island, I started to do live, quick caricatures for whoever wants one– the sitter chooses colors, what mythical creature they’d love to manifest as,any special props to include. I recently performed this same feat at a Google UX fest. People love it. It’s a way to make a little money. I make small paintings that have hand lettering, play with color and pattern, and often show the human form… I make quilts and embroidery using words as signage, pattern juxtaposition and deep color play. I’ll paint on scrap wood and found objects, I use salvaged fabrics and recycled materials. I make jewelry and treasure boxes using broken toys.

I’ve had day jobs in animation, I’ve worked for comic book and syndicated comic strip publishers. I love to tell a story and make it funny and stylish! I’m hoping to find more places to teach other people the many skills I’ve learned. This past summer I made art with children at outdoor events. I’m CPA/first aid certified and trained in narcan response. Useful

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. I love to research! Looking and reading are integral to what I love to do. Be curious! Be relentless.
2. Doodling, thinking, planning, visually organizing. Sketching and drawing, I can’t ever get enough! Don’t ever stop drawing.
3. I do keep trying to learn new techniques and approach art genres from alternative viewpoints. Be willing to reinvent yourself as an artist. If you can’t afford art supplies, make stuff out of what other people are throwing away.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am looking for folks to collaborate with! I’d love to belong to an artist’s collective where we all participate in group shows, run sales, and take turns hanging out in the gallery space at agreed times. I live in Queens and I hope to connect with other locals who like this idea. Space is expensive around New York City. I need to get involved with some more free thinkers who’d like to make such a thing happen — or join a crew already doing it.

I have collaborated on mixed media projects with other makers. I’m working on another that’s secret at this time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @patriciareddingscanlon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prscanlon/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patreddingscanlonnyc/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PatReddingScanlon

Image Credits

Laure Leber
Norman Blake
Collaberation with Vickie Smith (mixed media, last photo)