Though I am a self-taught artist, I have taken various classes and workshops to improve my art and learn new techniques. I strongly believe that everyone is given the gift of creativity when we're born. We all just use the "gifts" we're given in different ways. I see art and design in nearly everything and am very passionate about it. I could not imagine having a life without creativity involved. In the world today, where there is so much tragedy; I think art is especially important. We can "lose" ourselves and transcend our sorrows when we create, and truly be in a better and more peaceful world.

I was born in the country in North Carolina. Before I was a year old, my father joined the newly formed U.S. Air Force and moved my mother and me to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. After spending time in Florida, our growing family moved to Virginia. When I was seven; our family moved to St. John's, Newfoundland. After a tour there, we moved back to Virginia, where we stayed until moving to Oslo, Norway when I was a teenager. We lived in a beautiful mountaintop village called Sandvika, which overlooked a fjord. While in Norway, I learned to ski, ice skate, and speak a little (very little!) Norwegian. I also visited Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. In the past few years, I've visited Ireland & Hawaii.
I am a self-taught artist, though I've taken many classes and workshops ranging from drawing, painting, mixed media, photography, clay, lampwork (making glass beads), weaving, and beadwork. From the time I was a very small child, I have loved creating things with my own hands. I began to draw at an early age, and learned to sew and embroider from my mother and grandmother, who also taught me to crochet. I also taught myself to knit and while living in Norway, I learned the Scandinavian technique of knitting from our next-door neighbor. I once dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and used to spend a lot of time drawing designs for clothing. Nowadays I do beadweaving, design & make jewelry, & do photography. I can also paint (in all 3 mediums), make my own beads with a torch (lampwork), make beads out of clay, do other types of beadwork, & mixed media.
I have sold my work through various shops, restaurants, and galleries for the past 30 years. I'm a former member of The Bead Society of Southeastern Virginia, the Tidewater Artists Assoc., The Isle of Wight Arts League, the Suffolk Art League, and the VA. Watercolor Society. I served on the board of the Smithfield Cultural Arts Center for several years, where I had a studio and taught summer art camps for youth. I've also taught privately and at art retreats in the area.
*** If you're interested in prints of my work; you can find them at these online sites:
www.FireSpiritDesigns.Etsy.com
www.FireSpiritDesigns.Artfire.com
www.zibbet.com/FireSpiritDesigns

They may also be purchased matted, framed, or on canvas & greeting cards at: patricia-brett.artistwebsites.com and at: Patricia-Brett.fineartamerica.com

They're also sold on archival photo papers, canvas, as greeting cards & on other miscellaneous items at: www.ArtWanted.com/FireSpirit

Exhibitions include:
Smithfield Cultural Arts Center, Smithfield, VA
The Hermitage, Norfolk, VA
The Smithfield Bakery, Smithfield, VA
Riverview Gallery, Portsmouth, VA
The Pagan River Shoppes, Smithfield, VA
Morales Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
Arts Kitchen, Suffolk, VA
Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC
Suffolk Art Museum, Suffolk, VA
Nansemond Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, VA