Artist Christian "Patch" Patchell Uses Local Scenes in Illustrations

Christian Patchell shares something with this site. The artist goes by the nickname “Patch”.

Patchell and his girlfriend have lived in Chestnut Hill for nearly three years, and have become very fond of the community. They moved to the area because they were looking for a place “where the suburbs meet the city,” Patchell said.

“Chestnut Hill was it. It was perfect. It feels like the city but the woods are nearby. We can walk to the Wissahickon,” he said.

Patchell currently has an illustration showing at , and several upcoming events at the gallery as well.

He has been an artist for as long as he can remember, knowing from an early age that he wanted to draw and illustrate as his life’s work. Patchell attended the High School for Creative and Performing Arts and University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he took electives on illustrating and animation.

He settled on illustrations and comics as his specialty, because he could “spend a month on 30 seconds of animation, or spend a month and have 30 illustrations.”

As an artist, he says Chestnut Hill is a place with a very creative environment. Many of his illustrations and cartoons feature local spots, including his illustration that is currently at Nichols Berg, which features the Wissahickon.

“As far as being creative, writing, drawing, painting or photography, there’s a real creative spirit to Chestnut Hill. Even the coffee shop paintings and photos are really, really good,” Patchell said, mentioning that he is a regular at .

Helping to further that creative spirit, Patchell has three upcoming events at Nichols Berg. Sept. 24, he will be taking part in an artist trading card event, free for all ages, where guests can create art on 2.5- by 3.5-inch cards and trade them with others.

In October, he will be leading a Comic Book Boot Camp, Oct. 15, and in November, he will have a release party for a book he is currently finishing.

“I have never worked with a gallery so supportive,” he said of Nichols Berg.

‘Patch’ freelances as an illustrator and cartoonist, and also teaches classes at the University of the Arts and Antonelli Institute in Glenside. Look for more of his work in the area, and on Chestnut Hill Patch in coming months.