Patricia Duncan — Paintings Photographed by Mitch Rossow

Patricia Duncan is a representational pastel and oil artist. Growing up on the prairies of South Dakota sparked her interest in drawing and painting early, and extensive travel — including time living abroad in England — gave her both a wide range of subjects and an appreciation for cultural diversity. She now divides her time between Minnesota and the St. Croix Valley of Northwest Wisconsin, where lakes and farmland continue to fuel her work.

Patricia’s formal education took an unusual path: she pursued a fine arts degree at the University of Utah in the performing arts ballet division, with opportunities to audition and perform with Ballet West. That training in observation, discipline, and form carried forward into her painting practice.

Her painting education is grounded in long study under two of the Twin Cities’ most rigorous instructors. She studied with Joe Paquet for 12 years, building fluency in plein air landscape and the prismatic palette, and with Jeff Hurinenko for 7 years in the Old Masters’ Danish/Flemish method of oil painting through still life and portrait work. All of this training centered on working from life.

She still works primarily from life — plein air landscapes, figures, architecture, and still life — and is a member of Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. Her work is represented by Kelley Gallery and Art Resources Gallery.

Patricia teaches oil and pastel classes at her family cabin on Bone Lake in Northwest Wisconsin, and offers workshops and artist retreats from her working lake studio.

Grief and Healing Through Art

In addition to her painting practice, Patricia leads a workshop that draws on both her artistic training and her extensive study of Adlerian psychology. The workshop grew from her own experience of loss — the death of her daughter, Abbey — and offers participants a framework for using color, form, and artistic expression as a path through grief. It’s a specific and personal offering, and one that sits at the intersection of two disciplines she has pursued seriously for many years. Contact her through her website for information on dates and availability.

Patricia Duncan’s website

Patricia works in both pastel and oil — two different surfaces, two different photographic setups. If your work spans media, this studio handles both in the same session. Schedule your own session →