‘For the Love of Fun’
By Patricia Brooks, Fort Lauderdale Branch
D
oodling was my first foray into art. I would leave little doodles for my single working mother to brighten her day. A book of Norman Rockwell prints on our coffee table had an enormous influence on me as a self-taught cartoonist as I created “humorous biographical depictions” of my family and colleagues.
When I decided that color would really add some pop to the cartoons, I enrolled in a watercolor class at my local community center. I learned to sketch and paint, then added my own touch of whimsy. My illustrations are now in three books, with another on the way.
An artist friend said, “Your creativity dial is always set on ‘fun.’” That is true. I do like to amuse myself in any form of art and hope that the feeling translates into my work. My goal as an artist is to capture the imagination and share a smile with the viewer and enjoy the details, as well as the broader composition, in a painting, illustration, hand-lettered piece, or story. When I teach any type of art, I hope each student leaves with a new skill, a smile, and their creativity dial set on “fun.”
About the Artist
As an award-winning, self-taught fine artist, illustrator, hand-letterer, and crafter, Patricia Brooks uses her creativity and humor to tell stories in each of her favored genres. She illustrated “Noodle, Doodle, Fiddle, Piddle” and “Follow That Crow.” She has several original recipes and illustrations in “Linzi’s 61 and Holding Recipes” and is a nine-time winner in the Graceful Envelope Contest. She is the writer, illustrator, and editor of the Strange and Wacky Holiday series. Brooks has demonstrated and taught illustration and hand-lettering to those seeking new creative outlets.
Find her on Facebook (Patricia L. Brooks) or Instagram (plbrooks04).