Statement
The ‘Tuned Art Mixed Media’ name comes from a hymn I learned at an early age, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” This hymn includes the line, ‘tune my heart to sing Thy praise’. It is my hope that my artwork is ‘tuned’ to uplift. I love using different techniques and a variety of means to create. I used linocuts and gel plate prints as well as acrylic paints, oil pastels, gel pens, alcohol inks and artist pens. Various papers are used, all acid-free. All art work is suitable for hanging unless used to create journals.
Biography
I have been creating and making art for most of my life in one form or another.
In grade school, I created a giraffe in clay with was displayed in the de Young Museum, San Francisco, California, as part of an exhibit of art created by school children. In high school, I learned how to sew and that became my creative outlet for many years and on rare occasions today will get my sewing machine out to make something for myself, my home, or to give away. It was with cloth and a sewing machine that I started exploring the art side of creating when I discovered the world of art quilting. I created several art quilts. One, titled ‘The Cup’, was accepted into the juried exhibit, Sacred Space Art Quilts, at the Nativity Episcopal Church in Bloomfield Township, MI. This piece was awarded the Curator’s Choice award.
Most of my time now is spent learning and working in print-making. Nearing retirement in 2021, I began exploring the world of print-making starting with the linocut process. Several of my linocut prints have been sold with a few being juried into local art exhibitions. Many of my original linocut prints have been turned into journals which I bind and assemble myself.
Most recently, I a creating mono prints using a gel plate. I find the gel plate process very enjoyable as there are many techniques to experiment with that can turn into many different expressions. Unlike the linocut printing process where you can create multiple prints, the gel plate process allows only one print per print pull. You may really like a certain print but will most likely never be able to recreate that same print exactly. I also make collages with the gel printed papers as well as continuing to make journals and art books using my prints.
My work in art is deeply influenced by my Christian faith. Creativity is the telling of stories, through music, through writing, through artwork. As Madeleine L’Engle wrote, “Jesus was not a theologian. He was God telling stories.” Creating visual art is the way I tell my story and the way I participate with God in His creativity. Again, Madeleine L’Engle from her book, ‘Walking on Water, Reflections on Faith and Art’, “We write, we make music, we draw pictures, because we are listening for meaning, feeling for healing. During the writing of the story or the painting or the composing or singing or playing, we are returned to that open creativity which was ours when we were children. We cannot be mature artists if we have lost the ability to believe which we had as children. An artist at work is in a condition of complete and total faith.” I cannot separate my faith from my art.
I worked in higher education administration for 38 years, ending my career at MidAmerica Nazarene University as Dean of Institutional Effectiveness. I have been married to Mike Walsh, an accomplished professional oil painter, for over 50 years and currently resides in Belton, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. Mike and Pat are active members of Christ Church Anglican Overland Park.
Resume / CV
2025, Heartland Artist Exhibition; Tim Murphy Art Gallery, Merriam, Kansas; “Sweet Graphiti - Hope”, “Dark is as Light”
2025, Art for Healing Hearts; Buttonwood Art Space, Kansas City, Missouri; “Conversations”, “Fashion Week”; "Fashion Week" was awarded Best In Show
2024, Annual Juried Art Show, Images Art Gallery, Overland Park, Kansas; “Conversations”, “Prosperity”
2024, Heartland Artist Exhibition; Tim Murphy Art Gallery, “Rugged, Old”, “Bird Watching”; juried art exhibit\
2023, Visions of the Flint Hills, Buttonwood Art Space, Kansas City, Missouri; “Sentinels”
2007, Sacred Space Art Quilts, Nativity Episcopal Church, Bloomfield Township, Michigan; “The Cup”, "The Cup" awarded Curator's Choice