Artists with Attitude


Distractions It is appropriate that I live up the hill from a small zoo. My husband and I live in a 5 bedroom home that sits on an acre and three quarters in the woods on Cougar Mountain in Issaquah. Many wild animals live up here on the hill. That would include my 95 year old mother, who lives in a little house attached to ours, my daughter and son-in-law, who live across the street with a couple of monkeys I call grandchildren, and our toy poodle, Ruby Begonia, who would be dinner to one of the other wild animals that surroundus if we ever let her out alone.

Some of the animals we catch on the webcams we’ve set out in the woods include bobcat, bear, coyote, dear, and occasionally my son-in-law Todd. I never know when one of these creatures is going to show up and interrupt my painting. I get at least five to twenty interruptions a day. Every single one of them urgent. This is not good when I'm trying to paint and I actually have gotten on a roll. Not good at all. Maybe it’s squirrels in the attic. Maybe it’s my drama queen mother (where do you think I got it from?) wanting to go to the emergency room because she’s dizzy. What’s new? She’s always been dizzy! Maybe it’s a bear in the garbage can. Maybe it’s one of the monkeys wanting to sing her song to me. Or the other one wanting another electronic gadget he can take apart to see how it works. I actually dread my husband’s retirement next year. As much as I love them all………..I NEED MY SPACE!!! Patty has the same thing. Her husband works from home. She has a roommate that lives with them, and a 16 year old son, and Jones, the dog. And a nephew that comes to stay from time to time. She comes from a very large family that she’s very close with. And oh yeah………..we interrupt each other with stuff all the time. But of course, OUR stuff is really important. Serious painting can only be done when we’re in workshops or go to a friend’s house to paint. Of course that doesn’t stop your friends’ interruptions that can interfere with your painting. I love it when I go somewhere else to paint. My family seems to respect that more. I tell them it’s for something very important even if it isn’t. Even at friends’ homes I get occasional text messages or phone calls (they act like it doesn’t count.) Sometimes extremely important things like “Did you feed the dog this morning before you left?” or “Will you stop for milk on the way home?” I had to stop writing about 45 minutes ago because I got an urgent phone call from my Mom asking me to call her doctor. While I was on the phone with the nurse the two monkeys came in and starting talking in my other ear. I was seriously trying to hear three people at once. All the while the dog was jumping and barking. It’s not over yet. I just got another call wanting to borrow $100 to pay the guy who is doing yard work. I want to take my phone off the hook so I can start painting, but what if it’s a real emergency? Anyway, if I didn’t answer the phone, they’d call 911. Some artists instruct their families and friends not to interrupt them EVER when they are in their studios painting. That would never fly here. “But I just needed to know…….etc.etc.etc”. “It won’t take a minute……….etc.etc.etc.” “But Mom said to ask you………….etc.etc.etc.” It’s almost 11 am. I haven’t started painting yet. I’m sort of waiting for the next interruption.

Patty My work can be found inside Luly Yang's boutique where you can commission me to paint your special fitting or event. Luly Yang is on the corner of 4th and University, downtown Seattle. More of my work is also hanging at Cole Gallery in downtown Edmonds as well as Obelisco Obelisco Winery in Woodinville. Pepper Showing my girls at Studio 106, 106 McLeod Alley, Langley, WA on Whidbey Island. Sept 2nd through 30th by appt. Art Walk Saturday Sept 3rd 5 to 7pm. You can meet more of my beautiful girls at my ongoing show at Bass Gallery The paintings are fresh as is the subject matter and artist. (Note by Patty) Obelisco Winery This is like our own personal gallery. The tasting room has beautiful ambience and beautiful red wines. Party and Show October 29th For more paintings go to our websites. Or…..go to Patty's Blog or Pepper's Blog
Pepper-mint Patty

Pepper		Patty

	Hi I’m Pepper. I am fun-loving and love painting! That’s all you really need to know about me. But I never stop talking so I’ll tell you more. I started painting about 17 or 18 years ago I think……..who remembers?……….Patty and I met a couple of years later in an art class. Oh, that means I know more than she does and should be able to tell her how to paint. Not really, but I do it anyway! I’ve always been artsy-craftsy, so painting was just another thing for me to learn along with pottery, stitchery, quilting, applique, decorating, and a jillion other things. I dabbled for a couple of years then got a little more serious each year until finally I ended up obsessed to the exclusion of all other hobbies. I think it happens this way with most artists. It takes you over without you being aware of it. Selling my art is just a natural extension of this. After all……..how many paintings can you pile up in the attic? Well I could go on and on but I'm going to make myself shut up now. Gotta go paint!		Hi, I'm the 'Patty' part of this crazy painting partnership of Pepper-mint Patty. I am from a wonderful Italian family that early on, instilled in me the love of life, laughter, the arts, family, friends and good food! I started painting later in life and as soon as I did, I knew I wanted to be a 'painter' when I grew up. I'm not too sure that I've grown up but I have committed myself to becoming the best painter I can be. I absolutely love painting. I think it's because it combines so many of the things that bring me joy. I partnered with Pepper, because she is a crazy Italian with an insatiable zest for living (and painting.) We originally had a third partner but she never got a word in edgewise. If you meet me and Pepper together, you won't either! But, just know....we will love you! We just won't stop talking long enough to let you finish a sentence. (No wonder we can't keep a third partner)
Pepper's Blog PepperPeterson.com		Patty's Blog PattyForteLinna.com

Pepper Peterson "Portrait of Joanne"		Patty Forte Linna "Suzanne's fitting"


Pepper Peterson "Black and White"		Patty Forte Linna "Dapper Duck"


Pepper Peterson "Summer Sunshine"		Patty Forte Linna "Monkey Business"


Pepper Peterson "Lit Up"		Patty Forte Linna "Worth The 'Wait'er"


Pepper Peterson "My Corona"		Patty Forte Linna "Study for Angeline in Wonderland"


Pepper peterson "Red Stetson"		Patty Forte Linna "Luxembourg in Early Spring"


Pepper Peterson "Daddy's Girl"		Patty Forte Linna "Study in Satin"


Pepper Peterson "So Sorry"		Patty Forte Linna "Nights in White Satin"


Pepper Peterson "Sing Along"		Patty Forte Linna "This is the One"


Pepper Peterson "What are We Doing Here?"		Patty Forte Linna "Afternoon-DeOrsay"


Pepper Peterson "What's His Name?"		Patty Forte Linna "Tea Time at the Georgian"


Pepper Peterson "Tell Me Again"		Patty Forte Linna "Ocean Lady"


Pepper Peterson "How Will I Tell Him?"		Patty Forte Linna "And There She Is"


Pepper Peterson "Too Much Left Unsaid"		Patty Forte Linna "Shopping"


Pepper Peterson "I've Heard That Line Before"		Patty Forte Linna "Andy in Italy"


Pepper Peterson "You Need Me"		Patty Forte Linna "un deux trois"


Pepper Peterson "A Piano, A Cigarette, a Beer"		Patty Forte Linna "Men at Work"


Pepper Peterson "Modestly Speaking"		Patty Forte Linna "Arch De Triumph"


Pepper Peterson "Rock Star"		Patty Forte Linna "Cafe"


		Patty Forte Linna "For You"

Pepper Peterson "Love Song"		Patty Forte Linna "Road Trip"


Pepper Peterson "Tipsy"		Patty Forte Linna "Party Dress"


Pepper Peterson "What Was I Thinking?"		Patty Forte Linna "Spring Romance"


Pepper Peterson "I Don't Play"		Patty Forte Linna "I'll Give Him Five More Minutes"


Pepper Peterson "Merlot"		Patty Forte Linna "Can't Wait Till His Shift is Over"


Pepper Peterson "What Makes You Think I Care?"		Patty Forte Linna "LeMonde"


Pepper Peterson "I'm Not Speaking To You"		Patty Forte Linna "The Waiter II"


Pepper Peterson "Getting Dressed"		Patty Forte Linna "Afternoon DeOrsay"


Pepper Peterson "Let's Ride"		Patty Forte Linna "Aperitif in Luxembourg"


Pepper Peterson "Tonight's the Night"		Patty Forte Linna "Shoo Shoo Baby"