ARTIST STATEMENT

Every aspect of my art practice is grounded in both wonder and trust; each layer, each medium, each mark becomes an exploration of the divine; in the materials themselves and in the silent experience they invite. I seek an alchemy of emotion and hue, matter and composition, texture and tone: the unrefined surfaces of organic media meeting intention, inviting a hands-on dialogue with creation itself.

Often, my work juxtaposes organic mediums with inked forms, allowing their interaction to unfold on its own. This process brings trust and relinquishing of control into the piece, something both the artist and the viewer are invited to receive.

Faith is woven throughout each fiber of the canvas, the linen, the brushes. When painting, my mind walks alongside the Lord. These moments are rare in my days, not consumed with doing, but with simply being. Being with God, with my creator, The Creator, The Artist. Scripture, hymns, and sacred whispers do not become a scene, but a source: a source for hues, ephemerality, and gestural marks found within each painting. My work is not meant to be a sermon, but an invitation.

Where I set down my brush, the viewer’s interpretation begins.

Together, a relationship is formed, and a conversation unfolds.

Outside of the Studio—

Abbey, her husband, Connor, & their daughters, Margo & Murphy, reside in the heart of Oklahoma City. They live in a home that claims to be the first home in the city with modern electricity– full of charm and character.

Abbey’s new studio was built in their backyard, allowing Abbey to paint while still able to see the girls playing on their playground. Connor, an accountant by profession, also builds frames for all of Abbey’s original paintings. From stretcher bars and raw canvas to dropping your pieces off at their destination, every step is done in our little studio– it’s an honor to work as a family every step of the way. When not in the studio, the Ratcliffs enjoy spending time as a family– going on walks, hosting dinners, playing games, enjoying the outside & learning about their new city.