Patricia A. G. Towfigh

Biography

I was born in Bath, England, at the beginning of World War II, and grew up in Bristol (one of the most heavily-bombed cities in England). My first years were spent in the air raid shelter at the bottom of our garden, and those times were quite difficult.

I arrived in the US in the 1960s, working as a registered nurse. After spending a year here, I was about to return home to England, but just before I was to leave, I met my husband, who is from Iran. I am still in Medford after moving here thirty-eight years ago. I am the mother of two and grandmother of two (who also, incidentally, love to paint). I am exhibiting with my daughter for the third year in a row, but I have participated in WMOS for nine years in total.

I have studied and practiced drawing and painting since I was a little girl, and in addition to art, I love babies and children, music, exploring nature and the English countryside. I play the piano and the flute. One powerful source of inspiration for me is the beautiful Mystic River and Mystic Lakes in Medford. I love to walk by the river and to watch as the scene changes with the seasons, and from day to day. 

Statement

I have loved painting as long as I can remember. Due to shortages during World War II, only powdered paint was available at school; however, my sisters and I were able to paint with watercolours at home. Although watercolours are my first love, in recent years I have been experimenting with other media such as pastel, acrylic, collage and pencil. 

My grandparents’ garden, which was full of beautiful trees and flowers, had a great influence on me.  My love of nature inspires me; beautiful plants, trees, animals, birds and the outdoors maintain our connection with the Spirit.

Here is a favourite quotation from the Bahá’í Writings that inspires my art: “ … In this wonderful new age, art is worship. The more thou strivest to perfect it, the closer wilt thou come to God. What bestowal could be greater than this, that one’s art should be even as the act of worshipping the Lord? That is to say, when thy fingers grasp the paintbrush, it is as if thou were at prayer in the Temple.” – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá