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Inspired by the events of the historic Edenton Tea Party in 1774, I painted “The Edenton Tea Pot” In December 2021. The Edenton Tea Pot is the symbol of the courage and patriotism of a group of 51 women patriots who came together to formally protest the taxation of the American colonies by the British Parliament. In signing their names to a petition and vowing to boycott English goods, they made history as the first organized group of female political activists in America and joined their fellow Colonists in a growing grass roots movement toward independence

As a youth, growing up in the Red River Valley of West Central Minnesota, Patrick loved to be outside in nature and he loved to draw. Noting that his grandson had natural artistic talent, Patrick’s grandfather encouraged his young grandson’s interest in illustration and graphic design by ordering a correspondence drawing class that taught Patrick to draw the iconic comic strip characters of the day such as Dick Tracy, Beetle Bailey, Mary Worth, and Judge Parker. In addition, the work of illustrators, Charles Shultz, Walt Disney, and Roy Lichtenstein also inspired the young artist to develop his own natural ability to tell stories through art. As he progressed through high school and college during the influential pop culture of...