After being made redundant from her full-time job after 19 years as an executive assistant during the first lockdown, Patricia J Valenti took the plunge and set up her own business. Valenti says Covid-19 has led her to embrace her talent as a professional visual artist.
The Kent-based artist has launched an online art gallery, fulfilling a life-long dream. Showcasing her paintings she hopes this gallery will offer people a space to appreciate something inspiring during the third lockdown. She has painted more than 100 works since the first lockdown began.
Could fellow artists follow her example and launch their very own online galleries?
Patricia Valenti has not let the UK’s latest lockdown stop her raison d’ etre – painting artworks of animals, birds and nature in the hopes her finished product will inspire others. Her works of animals and birds, painted in oils and soft pastels, aim to capture fleeting moments and emotional connections.
A life-long painter, Patricia’s passion for art began as a young girl.
“I particularly remember the moment growing up, seeing a beautiful picture of a Pyrenean Mountain Dog,” says Valenti. “I wanted the picture so much that I painted it in pastels and in so doing found my talent.”
As a young woman she left school for office-work, as her parents did not view a career in art as viable. However, she continued to develop her artistic skills in her spare time. While working and raising a family, she painted pastel portraits of wild animals at night while her children were sleeping. She later sold these through a local art gallery.
Artist David Shepherd has been an inspiration throughout her life – for both his atmospheric portraits of animals in the African bush and his lifetime commitment to conservation. She now takes inspiration from walks around fields and farms near her home.
“I am thrilled to be able to fulfil my life-long ambition of starting my own online art business,” she says.
Valenti says that she is inspired by nature and the delicacy of flowers, the quirky antics of birds, the emotion shown through an animal’s eyes.
“I find joy in painting living things and seeing their intricacy and beauty. My Little Bird paintings are portrayed against contrary backgrounds, such as a complex wooden door.”
The gallery features collections of affordable original fine art, ranging from £80 for a pastel sketch, to £1,750 for a large oil painting. Fine art prints start at £35. Patricia painted more than 100 artworks during the UK Covid-19 lockdowns, including her “Little Birds”, “Warm Greys” and “Dog Lovers” collections, available on the website.
The website features both her latest work and some of her earlier pieces of animals and wildlife.
Those interested can browse the animal and bird artist’s original art and fine art prints from the safety of your own home and have any purchases delivered directly to their door. The originals and prints also make beautiful gifts. You can follow Patricia’s blog and latest projects by subscribing to her collectors’ club emails.
Patricia J Valenti Art
www.patriciajvalentiart.com
Tel: +44 (0)7517468757
studio@patriciajvalentiart.com
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