Paula E Borsetti
Paula Borsetti creates narrative abstract paintings reflecting her love of family, friends, and the nature of New England. Working primarily in acrylic, she borrows colors, patterns, textures, forms, and movement from nature to create richly layered paintings that evoke memories and moments.
Paula’s training began with working in the landscape. She fell in love with painting then, and that love continued through her formal education. She is interested in creating space and the plasticity of the painting surface. Being an art educator fuels her desire to nurture, learn, and share. Paula has a full-time studio practice and shows locally, nationally, internationally, and online.
Her Coastal series is influenced by sunrises and the coast of New England, where she has always lived. Her paintings reference the color, sounds, textures, and movement of stone, sand, and surf.
Paula’s PALS series is inspired by the battle her friend recently lost against ALS. Diagnosed at 25, he fought valiantly for 9 ½ years. For this series, she states: “I am intrigued by words. I am currently using words describing Bobby’s experience with ALS as layers submerged in the paintings. I am rolling these thoughts and words around in paint and letting them lead the way to paintings that resonate with a sense of strength, hope, perseverance, and life.” Bobby lost his battle, but Paula continues to use her art to advocate for awareness and a cure.
Paula’s current series, Fear of Flying, is in direct response to loss. Finding her way through this body of work, she dives into real and perceived barriers that keep her from moving forward, nurturing, healing, and soaring. Moving paint around the surface, scraping, sanding, building, layering, and drawing are all parts of her vocabulary expressing this particular moment in time, leading to works that resonate with hope and joy.
Contact
www.paulaborsetti.com
pborsetti1@gmail.com
@locuststreetstudios
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
My early training was painting in the landscape. That love of creating space has carried with me into my now abstract work. I am inspired by what surrounds me every day—sometimes a feeling, a word, a garden, a movement, texture, sunrise, being. Gratitude for being able to do what I love every day keeps me motivated.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
As an artist, I hope to make connections and share moments that are personal yet universal—moments of hope and joy. I tell stories of the ones I love through movement, shape, color, texture, marks, and calligraphy. My work is a way to understand things that are happening in my life. I want it to be a celebration of life.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
My years of teaching, as well as being an entrepreneur, help me to be organized. I set daily goals and a schedule to keep me focused when working on the business side of my practice. When it’s time for studio work, I close my laptop, turn on music, and get to it. I don’t let the time I have dedicated to painting become broken up with other tasks. I have several canvases, panels, and sketchbooks in progress in the studio, so if I get stuck, I can move on to another surface. This keeps me focused on creating. Once I have stepped into my painting zone, I am mindful to stay in that space.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
I have been at this a long time, yet it feels like I am just beginning. Rejection has got to be the biggest challenge, along with imposter syndrome. I had a long career as a teacher and left to pursue my work full-time. It’s hard not knowing where you are going, but I am committed to continuing. I can’t imagine not creating work. I remind myself who I am doing this for, and what I am doing this for. Every painting is a new discovery, a learning experience, a bundle of joy that maybe not everyone can see at this moment. What is important is that I believe in what I am doing and to never stop.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I have a series of work I created to help me work through and understand what my dear friend was going through when he was fighting to live with ALS. I am still committed to creating work to raise awareness. I know there is a power to art that creates understanding. I hope my work reaches out and touches someone, perhaps lifts them up, and helps them find wonder and joy even in moments of darkness.
