Using wax pencil, acrylic, and oil paint on various supports, I layer pigment with brushes, palette knives, and printing techniques. Applying paint to cover earlier passages is a part of my exploration—moving forward requires letting go. I layer and reveal, excavating the surface, and what will remain visible in the final painting is the unknown element that fuels my practice.

Abstracted plant life systems are a recurring theme in my work—the tangled mass of roots, the awkward meandering lines of branches, and how the passage of time can obscure what previously existed. As unexpected forces often interrupt growth, finding alternative pathways is a compelling resilience. This relentless drive and the inherent messiness are analogous to our human learning and development, which is the foundation that inspires my paintings.

I spent my childhood absorbing the varied spectrum of cultures within Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. I graduated with a BFA from James Madison University, with a focus on painting, printmaking, and alternative processes in photography. I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at Wesleyan University, with a concentration in humanities and creative writing.

My primary studio is in Brooklyn, New York.

Connect via email pattiparsons art or Instagram @pattiparsons