Patrick Parker shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Patrick, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Recently I opened a gallery in my name. When the sign when up on the building with my name and logo I felt so proud of all the years of hard work to get to this point!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Aloha, my name is Patrick Parker, I have been a professional artist now for over 20 years. I mainly focus on creating art that reflects my experiences in and out of the ocean here on Maui, and other tropical places I visit. I use a variety of mediums to create my art: acrylic paint, wood, paper collage, and coffee to name a few. What’s unique about my art is that I don’t just paint what I see, but I create “Fantaseascapes” that are not real in life but portray the overall memory of experiences I’ve had. Many people ask when they see my art if the place exists, I tell them its a visual representation of multiple experiences I’ve had, that create a visual in my head, I create that image, and if they connect with it then they too have had a similar experience.
The ocean beaches are my main inspiration. I surf quite often and am always humbled at the beauty and ever changing ways of the ocean, creating quick snap shots in my brain of perfect moments that end up influencing my art. Moving to Hawaii 15 years ago and immersing myself in that inspiration has really helped keep me grounded and on my art journey. The journey isn’t an easy one, with many ups and downs like the tides, but so worth it to keep pushing through the hard times to enjoy the fruits of the labor of love.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was about 12 I remember driving with my family across the border into Tijuana, Mexico on our way a beach resort. That was the first time I had been exposed to so much poverty. People begging for money at our car door as we sat in traffic, or coming up and washing our window and then asking for money. It was really frantic and scary at the time, but as I reflected up on those moments I began to understand how fortunate I was being from the US and the family I had. We had all our needs met and lived in a safe community in Los Angeles.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Knowing that every time you fail is a teaching moment makes it much easier to start anything. You might not make it the first time or ninth time, but if you learned along the way that tenth time you become successful is because you kept going with a goal in mind and the dedication and perseverance fueled by belief made it possible.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My own personal time is so important. I’m mostly an introvert with moments of extrovert when Im with close friends, but that energy can wear out quickly and I need to be alone for awhile. I recharge when I do art, surf, or take a hike by myself.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That the path to truly feeling happy day in and day out is to have a passion and follow that wherever it leads. It might make you super successful and wealthy, or is just a way to get away from the strains of the world. But no matter what it will feed your souls calling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://patrickparkerart.com
- Instagram: @patrickparkerart
- Facebook: patrickparkerart
Image Credits
myself
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
