AN ARTISTIC REBIRTH

Sandy Palasti is a contemporary abstract artist living in Charlotte. But, her path to get where she is today was nothing short of unexpected.

As a young woman, Sandy followed her passion in science and landed in medical school. After a fellowship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, she was recruited as the first Pediatric ENT surgeon in Charlotte where she cared for thousands of children and their parents. She was awarded Top Doctor in Charlotte multiple times.

It sounds surprising that now her full-time pursuit is in the arts, but if you knew Sandy's pursuits outside of her high-powered work, it wouldn't have been.

“I have always been creative,” she explains. “While I worked, that creativity was pushed to the side. But as soon as I retired, I began a series of explorations that ranged from writing, to ceramics, guitar, and finally, I discovered painting almost by accident in February 2020. At the time, I was deep into creating pottery in my garage and was looking for a way to paint pots.”

Here, Sandy shares more about her path to where she is today.

Do you see your proficiency in medicine and sciences as related to your skill with a paintbrush?

My curiosity and desire to learn everything there is to know about a subject has definitely propelled me quickly through the art world. I paint 4-6 hours every day, even on Christmas. I study art all afternoon and evening. And I suppose I will do this until I learn it all! But, my skills in surgery run completely op- posite to how I paint. My hands performed precise little motions where every move was vital and my surroundings in the operating room were sterile and painstakingly organized. My studio is a mess! There is paint on every surface, drips coming down the wall, splatter on the ceiling and on my dog. My movements are bold and taking chances is often rewarded with a wonderful outcome, unlike in the OR!

What does your artistic process look like?

I enter my studio each morning with an idea or two. Then I will decide what medium will best capture this idea as I work in both acrylics and oils. Music is a big part of my process: The songs evoke memories and emotions that fuel the dialogue I have with the canvas. I will start with graphite, drawing very loose sketches. I then follow with colorful and translucent washes of paint or ink. Layer by layer, the painting evolves until it feels like me, and like the mood or statement I am trying to convey.

Is there a specific source that inspires your art the most?

After I retired from medicine, I tried to write my memoir. I spent five years taking workshops and sitting in coffee houses. I stepped away from it at the second draft phase but still had a story to tell. We all have stories to tell but you have to discover the way you’d like yours told. I discovered I liked to draw on the emotions of my earlier life in medical school and residency: how I functioned as a woman in the man's world of the operating room, how I could have done it differently along the way, how hard it was to give all that up, and how I recreated myself at the age of 55. Most of my inspiration comes from life stories, told through the lens of nature.

How would you describe your art style?

My style uses bold and sometimes unexpected color that triggers memories of a time, place, or event in one's life. I know I am doing my best work when I am teetering on the edge, taking risks, keeping my energy engaged, and avoiding perfectionism.

What do you find most challenging about life as an artist and what is the most rewarding?

The reward is having an activity that I lose myself in every day. Entering my studio is the best part of my day. The challenge is dealing with the uncertainty that my efforts will result in a satisfying, finished product, or in a painting that feels like me.

Do you take commissions? Where can people find your work?

My work can be found on my website. I have been fortunate that collectors from California to Cape Cod to Canada have brought my work into their homes. I encourage people to join my newsletter as I write monthly about upcoming events, things that inspire me, and new collections.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Allison James 36x48 mixed media on panel "Valley Meet"

Brenda Bogart 72x48 mixed media collage on panel "Osprey with Fish"

Caroline Boykin 36x60 mixed media on panel "Small Town Saturday Night"