Patti joined the Santa Clarita Artists' Association in 1988 and has always kept herself involved by volunteering her services to the Association.  She has served as Vice President,  Corresponding Secretary and Membership Chairman. 

She began studying art with an   adventure in pastels while living in Texas as a youngster.  Later on, in Oklahoma, she began to experiment with a variety of different medias.  During the 1960s, Patti had the opportunity to study with teachers all over the map.  This was due to her husband, Ted, being in the military.  While Ted was on remote assignments she experimented with pottery, rosemaling, tole painting and other crafts, but it was in the state of  Nevada that she found her true passion for watercolor.

Patti has studied watercolor with Mary Jo Harding, Viki Richardson, Glen Knowles, Dolly Kirk, Tom Lynch, Arne Westerman, and Mary Lou Carraher.  She has won various awards for her work in watercolor and photography including awards from the Santa Clarita Valley Artists' Association, the Santa Clarita Artists' Association, the United Air Force Competitions and the Las Vegas Watercolor Society.