Trixie Pitts

ARTIST’S BIO

Trixie has been painting for thirty years, beginning as a portrait artist before thoroughly embracing abstract expressionist painting. She previously lived in Toronto, London, Atlanta and Hong Kong. While living in Hong Kong Trixie taught beginner oil and acrylic painting, and life drawing to local Chinese and ex-pat women from around the world.  Since returning to NYC in 2006, she has been painting mainly at the Art Students’ League of New York with the well-known post abstract expressionist Larry Poons as her occasional advisor. Trixie is a member of the National Association of Women Artists as well as various other artists’ organizations, and has participated in many group and solo exhibitions in NYC, Hong Kong, Nashville, and Toronto.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT  

When beginning a painting, I try to do so without a preconceived idea of a desired outcome.  To bypass my thinking mind and just paint, trusting that one thing will always lead to the next, is thrilling.  I love to paint with abandon.  I begin with a quick drawing, with graphite or charcoal in wet gesso.  I then build a painting using layers of oil paint and more graphite.  I paint fast.  Hopefully I express something authentic that is beyond words. 

I dedicate my work to all those who experienced severe early trauma.  My recent work has increasingly focused on expressing this huge facet of my personality. I believe that by striving to accept my past and its lingering demons and be proud of all that I have overcome without losing my joie de vivre, it enables me to harness these experiences in a positive way hopefully to create powerfully expressive work.  No matter what, when I look at my paintings I always get a healing message: I am who I am and I won’t give up.

Two pieces of advice I try to always keep in mind:

1. From abstract painter Larry Poons: “Trixie, like the old Ernest Tubbs song says, try to say good-bye the way you say hello.” 


2. From TV painter Bob Ross: “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents!”