Pat Holzhausen was born and raised in rural Saginaw County, Michigan. She graduated from Chesaning High School, along with her high-school sweetheart, whom she wed shortly thereafter.
As a young child, Pat developed a love of creating art, spending hours with coloring books, drawing from comic books, and painting with watercolors.
In addition to raising their four children, Pat worked outside the home in various secretarial positions. During eight years as a church secretary, she was able to apply her artistic talents in designing various brochures, advertisements and posters, along with Sunday bulletins. It was during these years she found time to write poetry, as well as compiling her parent’s love letters, written during 1908 and 1910, into book form resulting in “Dearest Ada, Darling Ray”.
In retirement Pat, and her husband of fifty-six years, Robert, live along the Molasses River in rural Gladwin County, Michigan, where they enjoy God’s magnificent creation all through the seasons.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
In defining my journey through the art world, I can locate no particular beginning. The need to create has always been present. From beginning in oils, trying acrylics, experimenting with clay, to being most comfortable with watercolors, I find discovery in each fresh, blank sheet of paper. To create a scene that I have witnessed, that is set in my mind’s eye, becoming part of who I am, and share that feeling of wonder and excitement with others is most rewarding. Presently, I find working with watercolor collage offers a different and interesting “twist” to my work.
Though basically self-taught, I have been fortunate to sit under some excellent art instructors during various workshops, as well as teaching watercolor classes myself. The saying, “you learn more when you teach”, is indeed true.
