woody patterson

To create his graphic, textured works, Alabama artist Woody Patterson uses unexpected items, including upcycled materials, computer and electronic parts and pieces of metal.

Artist: Born in Montgomery, AL, Patterson grew up in the greater Birmingham area. At Birmingham-Southern College, he double majored in fine art and business. After graduation, Patterson continued his art training at the Art Institute of Atlanta.

He worked for 20 years in advertising in Atlanta and Birmingham as a creative director – and doing his art work on the side – before focusing solely on his art.

Studio: Woody Patterson is based in Birmingham, AL. He works out of a dedicated space in his home.

Art & materials: Mostly 2-D mixed-media assemblies ($1,500 to $13,000 or more) and some small 3-D table-top sculptures ($250 to $500), often using unconventional materials, such as abandoned technology.

What’s popular: Currently, the color yellow.

Process:

Creates 4×8 foot panels of various color and texture using acrylic paint, stencils, paper, metals and archaic technology, such as circuit boards and schematics.
Sketches out arcs and curved shapes to compose the piece.
Hand cuts shapes and strips to build the complex composition of form, color and texture.

“My work is more physically demanding than most 2D works,” said Patterson. “It also uses a surprising number of power tools, including a table saw and welder, as I create my own aluminum-based structures and framing.”

Favorite or essential tools:

A garage door opener which operates a moving platform that he uses in the first stage of creating the large, colorful and textured panels.
While Patterson wouldn’t say it’s a favorite tool, his most essential tool is a high-quality utility knife for making the precise cuts in material that is a signature for his work.

Inspiration/influences:

Art across all cultures and through the millennia.
Contemporary artists, such as Diebenkorn and Richter.
Found objects, including scraps of metal, signage, packaging and even the left-behind debris of a traffic collision at an intersection.

“I often stop to enjoy decaying surfaces, both organic and man-made, and the delicate layering and texture created by weather and time,” said Patterson.

Fun or special sales or commissions:

Most memorable sale: To a young man who, with his parents, was purchasing his first piece of art. He and Patterson worked through the process together, including a modest amount of haggling. “His note about the experience and the piece he purchased will always be special to me,” said Patterson.

For a recent corporate client, he was given a guitar to use in the work. Patterson deconstructed it and integrated the pieces into the work along with other visual elements unique to the company.

“For commissions, I always enjoy integrating unusual and highly personal items,” said Patterson.

Recent awards/honors: