Artist Statement
My work is colorful, and abstract, with a Southwest feel. Symbols in my work reflect my belief in life beyond what I see, and my gratitude for life itself. A symbol for the light of the Creator coming into the painting may be found in all of my later work as a token of my gratitude. I work in acrylic and mixed media on canvas, paper, and wood, letting texture and experimentation help the work take me where it needs to go. My greatest pleasure is when my work resonates with a client creating that bond of understanding that only art can give.
Artist Biography
Pat Stacy | Beyond What I See
While Arizona painter Pat Stacy has always felt drawn to art, her road to creativity has been a long and winding one. Unlike many artists who can point to pivotal moments in their childhood or an inspirational mentor early in life, her pursuit of art is borne of a lifetime of experience with the human condition. Her powerful, mystical work touches viewers at a deeper level; Pat speaks to the spirit, painting beyond what she sees.
Pat was a Licensed Professional Counselor, earning many awards for her work. She retired from her profession in 1994 to care for her seriously ill husband. After his death, Pat became a disaster mental health volunteer with the American Red Cross, which she did for the next 13 years. Pat believes that we are here to make a difference, and she believes that her work, did indeed, make a difference.
Her work was cut short in 2007, when illness happened. Surgeries in 2008 led her to pick up a paint brush. She had always said “Someday I will paint” although she had never tried artistic pursuits to any great extent. She had many hours of surgery that year, and found that if she painted, she didn’t hurt—distraction is a sound principle of pain management! And so she painted! It very quickly became a passion. In much better health in 2009, she sought out instructors and mentors who could help her learn technique and develop her style. “I was starting late in life, so the learning curve was straight up!”, she recalls. She studied with Bruce Marion, Betsy Dillard Stroud, and Nancy Reyner among others. “I would find artists whose work I admired, and then I would find out if they taught classes.” Another career was born, and she began to show her work later that year.
Pat has developed her own unique style that involves symbols and spiritual imagery. “I intuitively know from my experiences that there are many realities I do not see,” Stacy says, “and my art began to touch viewers at a deeper level. I would have people see my work at a show and tell me that they felt something powerful emanating from the imagery—or that they find an energy in my booth.”
Pat’s subject matter draws from or is inspired by ancient and native cultures. Some of the symbols in her work come directly from native art, while others are her own creations, an artistic mythology that helps Pat convey her artistic vision to viewers.
Over time, she has developed a symbolic language which she uses in her work. “A symbol I have for the light of the Creator is descending squares, my “thank you” for being allowed to create the painting, and my acknowledgment of where all creativity comes from.” she continues. “I have one of these in every painting, sometime very visible and sometimes somewhat hidden. I also use a spiral somewhere in most of my paintings. This represents the journey to the center of being for me, the quiet where we rest, regroup, and journey out to the world again. It is my hope that the viewer will develop their interpretations of the symbols and make them own.”
Pat’s current body of work is done on four wooden panels held together with dowels. She calls this type of piece a “Quadruvium”, meaning a crossroads where four roads meet. Pat creates the heavily textured paintings by building up layers of acrylic paint and employs crackling techniques to give the surfaces depth. She is known for her fine line work on the sides and edges of her work
Pat Stacy has developed a strong following for her work. She shows in galleries in Sedona, Arizona. and well as in Moab, Utah . She has collectors across the nation and internationally as well. Her husband, Loren Anderson, has been a staunch supporter. He constructs her Quadruvium blanks, helps her prepare for and set up shows, and handles the paperwork of the business.
“I feel like everything in my life has been preparing me to create the art I’m creating today,” Pat says. I would like to encourage people to find beauty, hope and meaning in their lives—and let art help guide them on the path.”
River of Hope
“There’s a river of hope
There’s a mountain of peace
There’s an ocean of joy
Waiting somewhere for me
If I trust in my God
Not what I see but what I know
I will always find
A river of hope”
-----Susan J. Paul
Pat Stacy
PStacy Fine Art
12698 E. Poinsettia Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
602-290-3009