Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Pascucci.
Hi Paula, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in the Boston area and honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making something. If I wasn’t at the beach body surfing, exploring tide pools, or building sand structures, I was sitting at the dining room table drawing while everyone else watched television. I loved animals, especially horses, and filled sketchbooks with drawings copied from books. Later, in high school, I drew portraits of musicians for my friends. I was always looking for a new creative challenge—even embroidering Jack and the Beanstalk up the leg of a pair of jeans.
I studied at the Art Institute of Boston and have been fortunate to learn from many talented artists throughout my career. I believe growth as an artist is a lifelong process, and I remain curious about new ideas, techniques, and materials.
After retiring, I moved to St. Augustine seeking a warmer climate and a vibrant arts community where I could fully immerse myself in my creative practice. I originally worked primarily in pastel, but because of health concerns associated with the medium, I began exploring collage as an alternative. The transition felt natural because layering torn papers echoed the way I layered pastel strokes. That discovery led me to develop my current approach of creating artwork from hand-painted papers.
What inspires me most is the sense of discovery that unfolds as each piece takes shape.” Whether I am working with collage, experimenting with encaustic, or exploring a new idea, I approach each piece with curiosity. Some of my most rewarding moments in the studio occur when I set aside expectations and allow the materials to guide the work. It is often in those moments that something unexpected happens.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Self-doubt has been part of the journey. Creating deeply personal work requires vulnerability, and there are always moments of questioning whether the work is successful or meaningful. I’ve learned that growth often comes from pushing through that uncertainty rather than waiting for confidence to arrive first. Over time, I’ve become more comfortable trusting my instincts, embracing experimentation, and allowing the work to evolve intuitively.
Another significant challenge was relocating to St. Augustine after retirement. I left behind a lifetime of family, friendships, and professional connections in New England and found myself starting over in a new community. Building a sense of belonging required time, energy, and more courage than I expected.
One of the first things I did was join the St. Augustine Art Association and the First Coast Pastel Society. Through those organizations, I began meeting other artists, showing my work, teaching workshops, and eventually serving on the board of the St. Augustine Art Association. Those connections also led to opportunities to exhibit in local galleries, and today I am a member of Art Collective Gallery.
Looking back, what began as a challenge became one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Through the arts community, I found friendships, opportunities, and a renewed sense of belonging. While it took time to build, I now feel deeply connected to the creative community here in St. Augustine.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a mixed media artist, I specialize in paper collage. Every element is created from my own hand-painted papers. I begin each piece by establishing a carefully considered color palette, then design custom collage papers through layered applications of paint on archival surfaces. These papers are torn into expressive, brushstroke-like shapes and adhered with acrylic medium, allowing me to paint with paper, quite literally.
The soft, feathered edges created from tearing my papers allow the fragments to merge seamlessly into brush strokes. This layered process invites viewers to look closely, and discover subtle transitions, and expressive details within each piece.
Inspired by the natural world, my work explores the balance between abstraction and contemporary impressionism, drawing from the textures, colors, and rhythms of birds, gardens, and the surrounding coastal landscape.
I love creating work that not only captures the beauty of the natural world, but also evokes a sense of stillness, intimacy, and quiet attention in the viewer.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Before becoming a full-time artist, I worked in project management and conducted training sessions on new technologies. While that may seem far removed from art, both paths are rooted in observation, problem-solving, and attention to detail. The focus I once gave to systems and processes evolved into an appreciation for the subtle relationships of color, value, and shapes
While building a career in the corporate world, I maintained a strong connection to the arts through active involvement in art associations, workshops, and creative communities. Art was never something I left behind—it stayed an essential part of my life and a constant source of inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paulapascucci.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmpascuccifineart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063240849254
