Patrice is a professional book illustrator, poet, writer, art educator and art & healing practitioner. She holds a BFA degree in Illustration and a Certificate in Art & Healing from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. For nearly 30 years Patrice has worked in the field of illustration and art education. She is a Fine Art Specialist K-12 at Oak Park School, Sarasota County’s center school for the mentally, physically and emotionally challenged.

 As an art educator she has been a faculty member of the Continuing Studies programs at Ringling College of Art & Design, Booker VPA, Art Center Sarasota, Venice Art Center, MacMurray College as well as an Artist-in-Residence at Girl Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs. Patrice has been a collaborating art educator with VSA teaching artists, her students and fellow teachers on Building Bridges in the Community funded by grants from the Kennedy Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Center. This work earned her the prestigious C/SPA Distinguished Arts Educator Award for Leadership in Arts Education 2012 for Sarasota County. She has also been a teaching fellow at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Maine College of Art in Portland and most recently at Moore College in Philadelphia. Presently she is completing her book, Feather Mountain which is soon to be published.

 Patrice’s life has been greatly enriched by her studies in the healing arts, and has led her to develop programs to enrich the lives of others. She feels the intermodal foundations of expressive arts allows for a more holistic approach to accessing our creative spirit. Our search to connect with our authentic art spirit provides a motivation to attain balance and wellness. This promotes a genuine sense of happiness and fulfillment as we travel on our life path.