Winslow Art Center will close briefly between 1am-2am Pacific Time (UTC -7, 4-5am Eastern, 9-10am BST) for updates. Class recordings can be watched during this time, please click here for more information.
Patty Voje – Lost and Found: Recovering Your Creative Identity (Online)
Date recorded: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Earlier this year, award-winning alla prima painter Patty Voje suffered a stroke that left her with new visual and cognitive challenges. She’s now re-learning how to draw, paint, and see color. Patty will talk about her experiences—both the frustrating and the hopeful—including how important art is to brain health, emotional well-being, and healing after a life-changing event. Whether it’s a medical crisis, divorce, loss of a loved one or another traumatic experience, these moments in our lives can have an unmooring effect on our creative practice. Patty is an inspiring teacher who’s always believed that sharing her process is just as important as sharing her finished work, and this topic now feels more vital than ever. If you’re looking to feel validated and inspired in your own work to connect with your creative self, come and listen to Patty’s talk!
Recordings will be posted within 24 hours after an event.
This page contains protected content. You must be logged in and registered to view Zoom links, recordings or information for enrolled students only.
Earlier this year, award-winning alla prima painter Patty Voje suffered a stroke that left her with new visual and cognitive challenges. She’s now re-learning how to draw, paint, and see color. Patty will talk about her experiences—both the frustrating and the hopeful—including how important art is to brain health, emotional well-being, and healing after a life-changing event. Whether it’s a medical crisis, divorce, loss of a loved one or another traumatic experience, these moments in our lives can have an unmooring effect on our creative practice. Patty is an inspiring teacher who’s always believed that sharing her process is just as important as sharing her finished work, and this topic now feels more vital than ever. If you’re looking to feel validated and inspired in your own work to connect with your creative self, come and listen to Patty’s talk!
Patty Voje is an award-winning artist based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. A figurative painter, most of her work is “alla prima” – completed in one sitting. Her command of bold color and expressive brushwork mark her style. Patty has exhibited nationally and is the recipient of numerous accolades. She studied Fine Art at the University of Minnesota and at The Atelier of Minneapolis. She is proud to be affiliated with American Women Artists, Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society and Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. Born and raised in the Midwest, Patty grew up on a small hobby farm where she had the good fortune to include pigs, sheep and the occasional chicken as members of the family. Her love of animals figures prominently in her art. Patty travels extensively for both pleasure and painting. In the summer you can find her in her trusty Airstream, traveling the country to compete in plein air events, stopping along the way whenever a field of cattle presents itself.
She is available for individual instruction, small group classes and workshops. Patty is an inspiring teacher who believes that sharing her process and technique is just as important as sharing her finished work.
If you enjoyed this presentation or have any thoughts on it or questions, please leave a comment. If you made a piece of art inspired by this presentation, we’d love if you’d upload and share!
9 Responses
Hello Patty, I listened to the recording of your presentation yesterday and have been thinking of it since. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It was so inspiring! I started out as a painter decades ago, and I got my undergraduate degree in painting. Then I took another path into environmental and activist art for many years, though I always wanted to return to painting–my first love. When I turned 70, I decided it was now or never! I am loving it, but there are challenges to working as an older artist. There are also great rewards! Thank you for bringing both to the fore. All the best for a full recovery. Ann
Thank you, Patty, for sharing your experience and story after only 1 month of recovery! You are incredibly inspiring and encouraging. We are on Day 8 of my mom’s recovery from a stroke, and I have gotten so much hope and inspiration from your session for staying positive throughout this journey. Also, thank you Martha for this incredible event!
Hi Karen! Sorry this response took so long, still figuring things out :). Thank you for lovely comment and I hope your Mom is doing well and improving everyday. Tell her I’m rooting for her!
Loved this! Thank you Patty for sharing your journey. Your attitude is amazing & inspiring!
Patty is a terrific painter and I really appreciate her sharing her uplifting story of perseverance and the tremendous power of making art! It is also easy to understand the impact Martha has had on Patty because Martha is such a positive, generous and inspiring person who has had a wonderful impact on so many of us! Thank you to both!
9 Responses
Hello Patty, I listened to the recording of your presentation yesterday and have been thinking of it since. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It was so inspiring! I started out as a painter decades ago, and I got my undergraduate degree in painting. Then I took another path into environmental and activist art for many years, though I always wanted to return to painting–my first love. When I turned 70, I decided it was now or never! I am loving it, but there are challenges to working as an older artist. There are also great rewards! Thank you for bringing both to the fore. All the best for a full recovery. Ann
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you, Patty, for sharing your experience and story after only 1 month of recovery! You are incredibly inspiring and encouraging. We are on Day 8 of my mom’s recovery from a stroke, and I have gotten so much hope and inspiration from your session for staying positive throughout this journey. Also, thank you Martha for this incredible event!
Hi Karen! Sorry this response took so long, still figuring things out :). Thank you for lovely comment and I hope your Mom is doing well and improving everyday. Tell her I’m rooting for her!
Loved this! Thank you Patty for sharing your journey. Your attitude is amazing & inspiring!
Thank you Laurel!
Patty is a terrific painter and I really appreciate her sharing her uplifting story of perseverance and the tremendous power of making art! It is also easy to understand the impact Martha has had on Patty because Martha is such a positive, generous and inspiring person who has had a wonderful impact on so many of us! Thank you to both!
Thank you Evelyn for your kind words and encouragement. Much appreciated!
Thank you so much for bravely sharing your story. I found it very helpful and inspiring.