We had the good fortune of connecting with Pat Saunders-White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pat, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?

In 2000 I was painting with my best friends on a beautiful summer afternoon.  Just for fun I painted a cow. I did not paint in my usual way but loose with  brilliant colors and broad strokes. I sketched the cow with pencil, made corrections and used a heavy black line for the finished sketch.  I believe I was connecting to my inner child that filled lots of coloring books.That afternoon was a  pivotal point in my career .I painted several other animals and displayed them at a Fort Collins gallery I belonged to.That is how I received my first commission. received my first commissions.

My work started to get a lot of attention because no one was painting like this.  It was several years later that I realized I become an accidental influencer.  Now 22 years later my work is still mainly commissioned pet portraits.  As my career gained steam I noticed more and more people who had dedicated many years of painting other subject matter start painting animals.

My motto has always been, if you don’t go after your dream it will never happen. There were three important decisions I made or happened to me that  brought me international and national notice.

1. One issue of Costco’s Member Magazine, years ago, featured Members who had pet related businesses. I applied, Out of 450 applicants they chose to feature my work. Over 600,000 people saw that issue. The commissions I received from that article kept me booked for over 3 years.

2. Avila Retail in Albuquerque NM had airport stores. I did a presentation for the buyer in Denver and it resulted in being represented in four airports with art related merchandise and canvas and print reproductions

3. I signed with 2 licensing companies giving them permission to reproduce my work on many websites and merchandise

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The biggest challenge is to balance a personal life along with developing my business. For a long time I had a partner that helped share the burden with an understanding heart. At this point, it is all on my shoulders to keep it going. That doesn’t make me unique, But one characteristic I felt always set me apart was sharing my technique and hard won experience with anyone who asked. Nothing I did was proprietary. I expanded my sales portfolio with notecards, reproductions, cutting boards, magnets, etc. etc. I always have my antenna in the “up” mode for opportunities.  I have taught part time at the Loveland Museum for over 20 years. From tots to adults I  always try and come up with new and interesting projects.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Maybe I should think this hard about doing this for myself than being asked to do it for someone else! I would take a car drive through the mountains that would get us to the Mount Princeton hot springs. Have a good massage and retire to our accommodations. There we would bar-b-que shrimp and hold a cold martini in our hands. Champagne would be a second choice. Possibly “go up the hill” to show her/him our unique gambling towns of Central City and Blackhawk. Take in an opera while we are there and stay overnight at The Monarch. We would end the week more peacefully at my 116 yr old home, walk downtown and shop a bit. If there is a good show at The Rialto we would buy tickets and eat at Door 222. A few workouts at Chilson Recreation Center and play pickleball on several of the outdoor courts or inside in the weather calls for it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

SHOUT OUT to my 3 best friends who also are artists. Without them I would never have gotten the wonderful advise, support and love. Because they are artists, they “get it”, The ups and downs of this very fickle business.

Thank you to my four sisters for the “atta’ girl” congrats along the way. Although they don’t understand the business of art, they have been great cheerleaders throughout the process.

Website: www.pat-saunderswhite.artistwebsites.com

Instagram: patsw_art@yahoo.com

Facebook: Pat Saunders-White/ColorfulAttitudes

Other: lincolngallery@lincolngallery.com

Image Credits
Photographs by Jafe Parsons, Professional Photographer Loveland Co 80537

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