Artist of the Month, Christine Patsos

This April, The Art Store is proud to highlight Christine Patsos as our Artist of the Month! Christine is a Central New York artist whose work reflects both her roots and her deep commitment to creativity as a vital force in everyday life.

 

Christine (she/her) grew up on a dairy farm in Central New York, an experience that continues to shape her artistic voice. Animals like cows and horses have appeared in her work, serving as both personal symbols and reflections of her upbringing. There’s a grounded, lived-in quality to her art that feels authentic and quietly powerful - like it’s grown from the same soil she once worked.

 

Her primary mediums (watercolor and colored pencil) often intertwine, allowing her to build soft layers of color, shadow, and detail. This combination gives her work a sense of delicacy while still maintaining structure and intention. It’s a balance that mirrors her creative philosophy: intuitive, but disciplined.

 

Christine cites the late George Benedict as one of her biggest artistic influences. She participated in his portrait group, a formative experience that continues to impact her practice. Today, she carries that legacy forward by staying engaged in the local art community, including sessions held at the Delavan Center on the second Thursday of each month.

 

Inspiration for Christine often comes from simple, grounding activities. Taking walks, connecting with other artists, and making art in shared spaces. These moments of connection fuel her creativity and keep her practice evolving. She also finds that her creativity builds momentum: once a piece begins to “work,” her energy and excitement follow.

 

A self-described morning person, Christine prefers to work early in the day. Growing up on a farm shaped her internal rhythm, and she finds that mornings bring her the most focus and energy. Whether she’s working quietly or with the soft backdrop of soul or R&B music, her process is both ntentional and deeply personal.

 

For Christine, art is more than expression... it’s essential. She describes it as “the opposite of destruction” in a world that often feels heavy with it. Art, in her view, is what restores, heals, and ultimately saves us. This belief is deeply tied to her own motivation to create: maintaining mental health and setting personal challenges that keep her moving forward.

 

Her artistic journey began early. Like many artists, she was always drawing as a child, but it was a perceptive seventh-grade art teacher who first recognized her talent. Since then, she has continued to develop her skills through figure drawing sessions, learning opportunities, and visits to museums and galleries.

 

Christine works from home, where she has created a dedicated space for her practice. It’s a setting that allows her to stay consistent and connected to her work - an important part of her routine and discipline.

 

When asked what every artist should hear, her answer is simple but profound: "Creating art allows one to have a sense of accomplishment, and thereby  -  happiness!"

 

The truth of that philosophy resonates through everything she creates. Christine Patsos reminds us that art doesn’t just reflect life. It sustains it! 

 

Get in during the month of April to see Christine's exhibit on our Artist of the Month Wall!