We recently had the chance to connect with Andrea Pate and have shared our conversation below.
Andrea, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
For many years, pyrography was the foundation of my creative identity and the inspiration behind my original business, Pate’s Pyrography. I still work in that medium today, as it’s where I learned patience, control, and how to bring depth and realism to a surface. But over time, I felt a growing pull to explore beyond it. I wanted to challenge myself, experiment with new materials, and create without limiting myself to one definition.
What held me back wasn’t the ability; it was the hesitation to fully put myself out there and embrace every side of my creativity without worrying how it would be perceived. Recently, I’ve allowed myself to let go of that fear and create more freely, whether that’s through polymer clay, laser work, watercolor, illustration, or DIY and home improvement projects. Through my partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement as a creator, I’ve been able to explore new tools and ideas that continue to expand what I thought was possible.
Rebranding to The Pate Collective reflects that evolution. It honors where I began with pyrography while making space for everything I’m becoming. I’m learning to trust my instincts, to take creative risks, and to embrace the carefree, curious side of myself that has always been there. In many ways, I’m not leaving anything behind… I’m simply allowing it all to exist together.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Like many artists, I’ve been creating in some form for as long as I can remember. As a child, I received recognition for my drawing abilities, and in my senior year of high school I was awarded an art scholarship. As an adult, my work has been auctioned for charity and sold at art fairs, in local shops, and online.
Over time, my creative work developed professionally through opportunities such as being featured in magazines, contributing artwork to a published art book, and being approached by a major publishing company. I’ve completed commissioned work for brands, including being commissioned by a chocolate shop to create sculpted clay display pieces, licensed artwork to Hobby Lobby, and partnered with TRUArt to create tutorials and contribute to their instructional materials.
Today, through The Pate Collective, I create across multiple mediums including pyrography, polymer clay, laser engraving, watercolor, and illustration.
Much of my work focuses on creating detailed, handcrafted pieces inspired by familiar objects, often encouraging people to pause and take a closer look.
The Pate Collective reflects my multidisciplinary approach and allows me the freedom to continually experiment and evolve. Through my partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement, I’ve also begun incorporating DIY and tool-based creative projects, expanding both my skillset and the scope of what I create. My work continues to evolve as I explore new materials, media, and ways to bring ideas into physical form.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world wasn’t a single event, but realizing how powerful curiosity can be, especially as I began sharing my creative process more openly. I noticed how people were drawn in, even if they had no prior interest in that particular medium. Sometimes it was the realism, the unexpected material, or simply watching something take shape that captured their attention.
That shifted my perspective. I began to see my work not just as individual pieces, but as a way to spark curiosity and connect people to creative processes they may not have noticed before. I love finding ways to bring different mediums together and share them in ways that are engaging and entertaining, even for those outside the art world. That mindset has played a large role in my transition to The Pate Collective, where I’ve embraced a more multidisciplinary approach and allowed creativity to exist without limitation.
It taught me that creative work has value beyond the object itself; it has the ability to evoke emotion, curiosity, and memory. That realization continues to shape how I approach everything I create today.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be to trust myself and keep going. I was always very hard on myself and often doubted whether I was good enough, even when others saw potential in me. I almost didn’t show up to submit my portfolio for the art scholarship I eventually received because I didn’t believe I would be chosen. That moment stayed with me- not just because of the outcome, but because it showed me how close I came to holding myself back.
I would tell my younger self to be patient, to be kinder to herself, and to keep exploring without fear of not being enough. Growth doesn’t happen all at once, and confidence is something you build by continuing, even when you’re unsure. That mindset has shaped how I approach my work today. I try new things, put myself out there, and allow creativity to evolve without holding myself back.
It’s a reminder I still carry with me- we often speak to ourselves more harshly than we ever would to someone else. I am learning to offer myself that same patience and encouragement, and that has made all the difference.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely, though it has shifted over time. In the beginning, the public version of me was much more polished and carefully curated. I shared mostly staged photos and kept a certain distance, avoiding videos of myself speaking or being fully present on camera.
Over time, I began allowing more of my real personality to show. Now I share myself more openly- whether that means dressing as characters, showing up without makeup on, or simply being more candid in the creative process. It’s still a curated space, but it reflects a much more genuine and playful side of who I am.
I want people to relate not just to the finished work, but to the person creating it. I hope that by being more open, I can show others that it’s okay to be different and to exist outside the expectation of fitting into a perfect, polished box.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I’m building The Pate Collective into a lasting creative brand. That means investing time in developing skills across multiple mediums, sharing my process publicly, and creating work consistently- even when the results aren’t immediate. Much of what I’m doing now, from building an audience to expanding into new tools and disciplines, is laying a foundation that will take years to fully mature.
I’m also documenting and sharing my creative journey in a way that connects with people beyond a single piece of art. Trust, recognition, and creative identity aren’t built overnight, they grow through consistency and authenticity. I believe the work I’m doing today is creating opportunities for long-term creative independence, larger collaborations, and the ability to continue to growing as an artist for decades to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/thepatecollective
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_pate_collective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patespyrography
- Other: The Pate Collective Storefront/Lowe’s Content Creator and Brand Partner
https://shoplowes.me/4gn3hW5
