Artist Statement
I paint as a way of slowing down and staying present.
When I’m in the studio, my mind quiets and my attention narrows to what is in front of me — the surface, the marks, the movement of color and line. Painting becomes one of the few places where I can remain in the moment and listen to what is unfolding rather than trying to control it.
My work sits between abstract impressionism and expressionism. I work intuitively, building surfaces through texture, line, and color, allowing the painting to develop through process rather than pre-planned outcomes. Much of the work begins as studies — quick, responsive pieces made in an active studio rhythm — while others unfold more slowly into fully realized paintings. I see these approaches not as separate, but as part of the same continuum of attention and discovery.
The paintings often emerge from a place of inner chaos — racing thoughts, emotional strain, or unspoken experience. Through the act of painting, that chaos is not erased, but held, ordered, and given space to breathe. I’m interested in moments of harmony that surface quietly within the work, often unexpectedly, as a result of sustained looking and presence.
Painting also allows me to express what I cannot always articulate in words. There are things revealed through the physical act of making — through repetition, layering, and revision — that become visible only in the process. Over time, this practice has shaped not only the work, but me, strengthening my ability to remain attentive, grounded, and aligned with who I am becoming.
Ultimately, my studio practice is both a discipline and a refuge. The work is an invitation to slow down, to sit with complexity, and to notice the quiet places where balance and clarity begin to form.
For collectors, these paintings offer a direct connection to the studio and to a living, evolving practice. Whether a small study or a more fully developed work, each piece is made by hand and reflects a moment of attention, presence, and discovery. Collecting from this body of work means engaging with the process as much as the finished painting.
biography
Paulette Insall (b. 1972) is a painter who lives and works in Tucson, Arizona. She was born and raised in Alabama. Insall has been working as a painter for the last 20 years. She has exhibited her work throughout the United States in both solo and curated group exhibitions. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Sloan Kettering Memorial in New York City and numerous private collections in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China. She is currently represented by the Ron Hall Gallery in Dallas, Texas. She is a 2024 Joan Mitchell Fellowship nominee.
Tucson, Arizona artist Paulette Insall on opening night of her exhibition at an art gallery in Portland, Oregon's prestigious Pearl District
“I enjoy the movement, color palettes and atmosphere in your paintings. They are refreshing. Thank you for bringing such hope and joy through color to the world. Color is definitely your instrument, and the way it dances across the canvas is contagious and brings freedom.””
