Pat Hutchinson

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knew, but maybe evil is what that bygone sleuth was looking for. More of an optimist than the Shadow, I tend to search out joy, humor, irony, satisfaction—and when I find one of these, try to give it expressive form.

Although I’ve honed my skills on still-lifes and landscapes, it is people who are the source of my endless fascination. The figures and faces I paint are always seen in the midst of a relationship--with birds, food, musical instruments, or the space around them. The ensemble reflects my genuine pleasure in each subject’s candid impulses.

I work in oils, acrylics, pen and ink, pastels, colored pencils, and watercolors, and often mix them. The approach varies from quiet interactions between a woman and a finch to the exuberant expression of a dancer’s energy in space. The emotion the subject projects tends to dictate the medium I use. But the commonality in the work is the human figure, approached with a sense of tenderness and care. Tight compositions, shallow environments, and bold cropping provide a solid spatial structure.

I hope that the viewer will come away from these paintings wondering what secrets he might reveal in a preoccupied moment if caug...

BA Gettysburg College
MFA Penn State University
PhD NYU