Patton Ado Interview

Patton Ado

Interviewed by Alexandra Dotti

October 2020

As I opened the zoom meeting, I was greeted by Patton in his art studio working on his new five panel art piece. He wasn’t ready to give me a sneak peek of what’s to come but he did tell me a little bit about it saying that “it would be my biggest piece yet”. The art studio was filled with beams of sun light as paintings that were unfinished/ finished hung around him on the walls filling the space. We chatted a little about our day getting comfortable with one another and then we began…

Alex: When did you realize you liked art?

Patton: Uhm I was probably like four or five. It started very very early. I would draw comic books as a kid.

Alex: What artists inspired you?

Patton: So I work with paint typically, but I’m inspired by many different artist that aren’t specifically painters. I think that my favorite painter at the moment Is NFN Kaylan. Another two artists that inspire me would be Adam Lipton and Chuck Close. When I was growing up Alex Ross was a very inspirational impactful artists on me, he was a a comic book writer. Damon Lindelof is another inspiration of mine -- he is a screenwriter. David Mitchell is also one of my favorite authors. He was the writer of the book cloud atlas. It's really out of the box, very unique, and has a really strong message.

Alex: What made you want to choose oil paints as your go to painting method?

Patton: I began with watercolors at the age of 14 because of Alex Ross. All of his work was photo realistic. I would watch YouTube videos with watercolors to copy his work and learn. Once I got to college, I started oil painting. I had an idea that oils were more serious than watercolors. They are more expensive, heavier, harder to work with. My great grandmother was also an oil painter. So, one day during my freshman year of college I was bored since my roommate was never around and bought some supplies and I liked it more than anything else I had ever used. You can do so much more with them than watercolors. For me there is so much more depth and detail to create with oil.

Alex: What were some of your first painting pieces?

Patton: I have a picture of Keith Ledger of the joker from 8^th/9^th grade. I would do a lot of character paintings from the show Smallville. I started with superheroes and have always loved superheroes. Superman and Wonder Woman were also some of my firsts.

Alex: What made you start painting water scenes?

Patton: When I decided to take painting seriously and wanted to make it a side hustle, but I had a really bad habit of starting pieces and never finishing it or getting really stalled. One of my favorite quotes that I heard around when I was really struggling with finding my inspiration was by Chuck Close “amateurs wait for inspiration the rest of us just get to work” so stopped focusing on the overall and focused on painting for at least an hour a day. I treated every painting as practice, and I happened upon this trend of water and I’ve always loved water and swimming. I have been a swimmer for my whole life and coached it. So, I attempted it and it was the start to taking my career seriously. Water is abstract even when its realistic, so it allows error and detail. Water was a good way to practice and figure out what I was doing.

Alex: What made you transition from painting water sceneries to political paintings?

Patton: I was never sure what kind of message the water really showed. Yes, it's art but I enjoy making you feel and making you think. I have a lot of ideas flowing in my head but haven’t had the language to be able to explain it. In my mind each art form has its own language. Painting is a visual language and I feel like I’m finally at a place where I can put all these ideas on to a painting and I can finally paint the things I really want to paint. My first political piece is the largest piece I’ve ever done and with a week to do it. I used acrylic instead of oil and it was another shattering moment once I finished, because it made me realize I can do it. I have to continue reminding myself to keep chipping away at it.

Alex: What was the name you gave the Time piece?

Patton: The front is called New Kids in the City the back is called Southern justice “murder in America” The piece itself has references from other art works within it. The titles are from Norman Rockwell pieces. The first title being New kid in the Neighborhood and the second was Murder in Mississippi. Then the black silhouettes in the painting are from a photograph that was taken during the protests in Baltimore from 2015.

Alex: What gave you the inspiration for the Time piece?

Patton: Partially the current event in the world and then partially from a few of the protesters I went to and some of the work from the photographer Devin Allen.

Alex: What social injustices were you trying to bring attention to in your paintings?

Patton: Racial injustice… but for the future I want to communicate a lot of ideas. I have about a lot of different things ranging from politics to personal.

Alex: What role do you think art plays in achieving social justice/ending oppression/resisting racism?

Patton: I think it plays a huge role if you look at any social movement in history there were artists on the right sides of history that made it able to help the movements. The magical thing about art is it brings what people have in common to life. Will and Grace for example, and how they were able to completely change the narrative on gay people along with shows like Friends and Ellen. It changed the debate and conversation about gay rights. It’s a lot harder to hate something that when you watch it in the show make you connect with the characters or have sympathy for whatever cause is being talked about. People can connect emotionally through art.

Alex: How far are you willing to go with your art to show injustice in the world?

Patton: We will see... I’m a little afraid to offend people but we will see.

Alex: Do you think your art has ever offended someone?

Patton: I did a painting of Trump awhile back and it definitely offended some Trump supporters, but I was okay with that.

Alex: What painting are you most proud of?

Patton: The time one is currently my favorite.

Alex: Do you think you will continue to do art for the rest of your life?

Patton: I hope so for as long as I can.