Patricia's painting career began in the theatre in 1977, first studying scene painting while a student at The College of William and Mary; where she graduated with a B.A. degree in Theatre and Speech in 1981. She continued her theatre training as a student on full scholarship at The British American Acting Academy in London, England. Then in 1986, she began to translate her creative skills into decorative painting while living and working as an actor in NYC. Patricia's acting career ended after twelve successful seasons appearing in theatres in New England (working with such luminaries as Christopher Walken, Sigourney Weaver, Nathan Lane, Allison Janney and many others).
During her career in decorative artistry, Patricia has studied at a number of American studios: The Day Studio, The Faux Institute, Faux Effects Studio, Faux Works, Dundean Studio, The Finishing Source; and also attending a professional artisan's class at Atelier Nadai in France. Over the years she has had the pleasure of studying with such Master Artists as Patrick LeHayne, Michel Nadai, Carolina D'Ayala Valva, and Pierre LeFumat. Patricia is also a member of IDAL (formerly the Stencil Artisan's League.) She worked as a decorative artist in NYC for 12 years, working on many magnificent projects, and there created her unique and creative finishes in numerous mediums. The earmark of her work is perhaps her chameleon-like ability to customize each project to the individual customer's personality and tastes, allowing each project to express that customer's style (more so than her own.)
In 1998 Patricia moved to Tucson, Arizona - where her solid training and experience gave rise to the creation of Finishes First. Patricia also enjoys teaching a few classes on occasion at Pima College and other locations (her popular "Faux for Walls" and "Faux Marble" classes have garnered unanimous "excellent" student ratings.) In 2005, Patricia was accepted as a member of the prestigious International Decorative Artist's Salon, a yearly gathering of 100 of the finest decorative artists from 30 countries around the world.
During the spring of 2006, a panel of Patricia's work was exhibited at the Escher Museum of the Queen's Palace at The Hague in the Netherlands. This panel can be viewed on the website under the "Fine Art" page. In 2009, Patricia created (for the yearly Salon gathering) a 1/6 scale (Barbie-sized) room heavily decorated in grottesca, and finely detailed to replicate a circa-1860 Venetian boudoir. This charming piece was exhibited at the Museo Storico in Bergamo, Italy. Then in April 2010, Patricia completed a faux pietre dure panel (which was exhibited at the Versailles Town Hall (in France.) Her work has also been viewed at Salon exhibitions in Tokyo, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Petersburg Russia, and other venues. Her gouache painting "Circle of Fifths" is on permanent exhibit at the Tucson Music Museum. Patricia's residential decorative painting work has been featured in numerous magazines including: Tucson Home, Tucson Lifestyle and Tucson Home and Garden magazine, as well as Faux Effect's World (a national magazine for the trade.)
Presently, Patricia and her talented crew are busy working on numerous projects ranging from trompe l'oeil, to faux finishes, to painted and textured surface treatments. Patricia also accepts fine art commissions, most often inspired by the client's own imaginative tastes.
Teri Frederick, Associate Artist
Teri, a gifted muralist, came to work with Finishes First in 2002. Teri began painting murals while living in Ruidoso, New Mexico. She went on to study decorative painting and textured finishes at The Faux Institute in Seattle, WA. Teri's irrepressibly joyful personality and her natural understanding of artistic balance and composition have made her a terrific asset to the Finishes First team.
Cindy Moore, Associate Artist
Cindy Moore joined the Finishes First team in 2008 after studying graphic design at Pima Community College and working as assistant for artist Lisa Frank. She is adept at working with a large variety of mixed media products from watercolor to acrylics and plasters and brings an astute attention to detail to every task. Cindy is a great asset to our team.
