Artist Bio
Patricia's formal education began at Winthrop University with earning a BFA in Interior Design (2003). Her years of rendering and design services for architectural firms in the Charlotte banking industry prepared her with a wide range of skill sets. The highly structured day-to-day environment with project management and a cultivated use of tools, both by hand and in computer-aided drafting, all contributed to the strong foundation Patricia draws from in her quest for precision in the quality of her design and fine arts work.
After becoming a mother to three children, the daily demands of commuting to Charlotte, while simultaneously becoming more involved in the artistic endeavors of her children’s church preschool community, led her to consider a new career in art education as the logical next step. After earning her MAT in Art Education in 2011, she taught art at several schools, including Fallston Elementary (her childhood school), East Gaston High School, and Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Middle School. During her time at TJCA, she developed a cross-curricular program for the arts. The aim of this program, which is now a model in the charter school system, is to connect artists, works of art, and art historical movements to better understand current events in the broader context.
Patricia’s newest pursuit of an MFA came about once her children were grown. The master's program in fine arts has challenged her to work in a way that emphasizes discovery, both in developing imagery and concept. Expressing her vision outside the box in this way, Patricia’s work has evolved to become more emotionally driven and physical in an intuitive way. She now believes that free expression in contemporary art becomes an opportunity for us to engage in meaningful and purposeful conversations.