Patrice Wills (@mythinkingheart on Instagram) is a visual artist whose paintings convey a sense of lightness and joie de vivre. She is an Archibald Prize finalist this year for her portrait of Uncle Wes Marne. She also exhibits as part of the Wet Paint Collective - its coming show, BLEND, is on next week.
My personal favourite pieces of Patrice's are her ponies; charming, candy-coloured studies of a beloved creature. However, her new works in BLEND reflect her love of adventuring - they reflect on recent experiences off-grid, camping and roaming in the landscape. "This continues to be the source of my artistic impulses," she said. "These small images are the gateway to ongoing investigations in my work."
Patrice Wills with her portrait of Uncle Wes Marne. Photo: supplied
Patrice Wills is the third in my series of creatives to take five questions.
When my creative process is stuck, I reach for… My dog's lead - going for a walk gets me out of head and able to reset.
The weirdest thing about being a creative human is… Everything is art. Sometimes you feel alone in the way you see things.
The most unusual object in my house is… A clay sculpture that’s meant to be a chicken that my youngest (now 16) made when he was little. Or perhaps the Harry Styles shrine my daughters have in their bathroom.
I celebrate my achievements by… Enjoying guilt-free studio time.
Something in the world that already exists that I wish I had created is… Whenever I see a great painting, I wish that I had created it. It then spurs on my own efforts.
Juliette Gillies, Jen Hsieh, Claire Low, Alexandra Plim, Jane Sankey, Cindy Scheule, Fleur Stevenson and Patrice Wills of the Wet Paint Collective will show new work at BLEND from 18-20 August 2023 at Balmain Watch House (179 Darling Street Balmain, NSW 2041). Entry is free. Join the artists for opening night drinks from 6pm-8pm on Friday 18 August. The show continues on Saturday 19 August and Sunday 20 August from 9am-4pm.
The Archibald Prize continues at the Art Gallery of NSW until 3 September 2023.