"I paint pictures and exhibit them; and sometimes I sell them."
-Patty Thum 1879
Thum returned to Louisville and established her first studio in her family's home at Floyd and Jacob Streets. Thum remained single and lived in the family home throughout her life. Her brother Mandeville became a successful doctor and provided a financial safety net for Thum, who found it difficult to earn an income from her art.
When Thum graduated from Vassar, American artists were struggling to make a market for themselves. Collectors were more interested in masterworks and pieces by European avant-garde artists. Thum began showing her work at a variety of national exhibitions to build name recognition.
Thum made and sold work for the commercial market. Capitalizing on the popularity of her flower paintings, she made images that were used as magazine, newspaper, and catalog illustrations.
