Pat Riggs

Pat Riggs of Muldrow said when she received the news she had been approved to become a member of the Artists for Conservation society in 2020, she went outside and screamed!

“It was the dream of a lifetime. I‚ve been an artist nearly all my life and becoming a member of an art society has been my dream,” Riggs, 62, said.

Riggs said she paints wildlife art (acrylics), and nature and but it wasn‚t until two years ago when she became a member of AFC.

“The best thing about it is not only was I approved and you have to be approved by a jury selection before becoming a member, but I was deemed as a signature artist and that‚s usually something you have to work your way up to. They just by-passed all the levels and I became a signature artist the same time I became a member,” Riggs said. Riggs said she painted her first piece of art at the age of seven.

“It was a rooster and I still have that!” she laughed. Over the years, Riggs said she has had to work and study “really hard.” The piece that earned her membership into the art society was that of an African Kudu, which is an animal that resembles an antelope and has horns, she said.

“I was painting African animals at that time and that was one I was really proud of. I‚ve also painted Native Americans especially from the Kiowa Tribe. Due to health reasons, I haven‚t done many more of those lately. My husband, Buster Leroy Riggs, is Cherokee and he‚s very supportive of my work,” she said.

Riggs has also painted murals and done some commercial art during her years as an artist. According to her bio, Riggs has donated paintings to a wildlife refuge in Eureka Springs, Ark. A series of portraits of their rescued animals include 11 scratchboard pieces of art.

Riggs said she has also “tag teamed” with other artists on special projects.

She assisted artist Guido Van Helten with three gigantic murals of colossal portraits which can be seen at the OK Feed Mills in Fort Smith and represent different types of personalities including a Native American man from the Apache Tribe, a young African American woman and a former employee who worked at the grain elevator for 70 years. Riggs said she and the Brazilians did the actual painting on another mural of cowboy dancers which can be seen on Garrison Ave, also in Fort Smith.

In addition to her art, Riggs said at one time she enjoyed speed walking and has received awards in running 13-mile half-marathons.

“Due to my health, it‚s not something I can do now,” she said.

Riggs, who grew up in Fort Smith, moved to Sequoyah County 31 years ago after she married. She and her husband have two grown children, Jason, who lives in Muldrow and Kerinda of Roland. They also have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She also attends the First Baptist Church of Muldrow. “I just love living here,” she said.

“I just love living here,” she said. “I would not live anywhere else. I tell everyone Se

“I would not live anywhere else. I tell everyone Sequoyah County has the best people in the world. You can‚t get any better people than here. Riggs said she feels blessed to have been able to spend most of her life as an artist and doing what she enjoys.

“I paint what I love. I have always loved animals and nature. It grieves me to see so many habitats and animals going extinct. I want to use my art to show the world my love for what God has created and to try and save it.”

Just Folks. Just Folks is Your TIMES way of honoring the regular people of Sequoyah County, recognizing their unique talents, personalities, jobs, abilities, etc. Your TIMES appreciates the cooperation of each Just Folks and the public‚s nominations for this feature. If you know of someone you think might be a good story, contact Roy or Lynn at 918-775-4433.