Dori Patrick feels very fortunate to live this creative life as an artist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is a mother of two grown kids, and is married to a sweet, long suffering hubby who cheers her on daily. They have two Labrador rescues who hang out with Dori in her studio, and she loves spoiling them. 

After owning a storefront/make and take art studio for 12 wonderful years in Marion, Iowa, she decided it was time to follow her own creative muse, and go out on her own art adventure. She has been working as a full time mixed media artist from her home studio for several years now.

Dori takes the term "mixed media" literally.  You name it, she'll try it!  She works mostly with acrylic paints, but mixes them with a variety of materials...gels, pastes, graphite, collage, fiber, wood, canvas, and clay to just name a few. She utilizes many unique mark making techniques, often reaching for unusual tools.  Both her abstract and figurative work are often described as "colorful, joyful, exuberant, and child like." Dori loves incorporating messages of encouragement. Sometimes obvious, sometimes not.  Sometimes with a little sass! Coming from a long line of women makers, you could say it's in her blood.

Her work is available for purchase at various art festivals throughout the year.  She participates in group shows and has put together several solo shows in galleries over the years.  In addition to selling her original works on wood, canvas, and paper, she sells an assortment of greeting cards, stickers and prints through her Etsy shop.  Her paper goods can be found with a few quality retailers.  She's had the pleasure of designing several fabric lines and home goods through licensing.

Her art journals and sketchbooks are an important part of her creative practice. They are her most treasured bodies of work, because she can create in them for no one but herself.  Her books are all about the process, not the outcome, and it's where she goes to explore, play, and work things out. Sometimes, when you look at a page in her books, she can tell you exactly where she was or what was happening that day. It's a great way to document a life.

She enjoys sharing the joy of art journaling and altered books with others. Dori teaches when her schedule allows, both in person and online. 

She says, "I really enjoy sharing bits of inspiration and seeing where that leads people on their own creative journey. Mostly, my goal is to put some good stuff out into this world of ours."