The following is an interview with Patti O’Hare Williams, artist and owner of O’Hare Williams, conducted by Discover Marblehead. O’Hare Williams is a Marblehead-based artist and creative studio known for fine art, graphic design and visual storytelling. Patti creates expressive still lifes and landscapes inspired by New England’s coastal beauty, combining color, graphic lines and a touch of nostalgia in both watercolor and acrylic works. To learn more or view her artwork, go to oharewilliams.com.
Patti, tell us about O’Hare Williams. For many years, I’ve enjoyed working with businesses and organizations. As a graphic designer, I work to create attention to the client’s messaging and their product with design, photography and illustration along with their social media posts and content.
My focus is sharing my artwork with Discover Marblehead members, area residents and Marblehead visitors. I’m a fine artist who has spent most of my life in Marblehead. I find inspiration in the natural beauty and endless changes of the ocean that surrounds us here. I work to capture those nostalgic moments and places that hold a meaning for people. I paint landscapes, pet portraits and commission work in watercolors and acrylics. There is a selection of my work displayed at my studio here in Marblehead and at the North Shore Art Association in Gloucester. A commissioned mural is also at Caffe Italia on Bessom Street.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in running a business? The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to listen and focus on what a person is looking for. The artistic nature has a tendency to take things further than the intent and the client is then disappointed. I’ve learned to hone in to create art that fits the desire of the client and is satisfying to produce.
What do you love most about Marblehead? Marblehead has a way of being very charming. The working waterfront, the ever-changing tides, the quiet inlets along the water and the colonial homes all beckon to a story we can conjure to another time. This is what I love about living here in Marblehead.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Most surprising to people is that I was a courtroom artist for a murder trial held in the Middlesex County Courthouse in Cambridge. Three men (later convicted) from Keene, New Hampshire, committed a brutal murder in Tewksbury. This assignment included the probable cause hearing to sentencing for the Keene Sentinel and transmitted through UPI wire service. The three men each received life sentences.
The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is dedicated to the promotion of the town. Its mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.
