Born in Lucerne Switzerland in 1965, Patrick Devonas, surrounded by a near utopian landscape, spent a childhood that was embedded in imagination. The liberties granted to him by his parents were both a phenomena of the current Zeitgeist and his elders given psychological bend as well. A wild long haired boy, given to much play in Forests and the back stage drama of the alps.

Patrick's struggles lay within the public school system. Not fitting in at large, drawing and painting soon became his way of coping with societies demands on him. So much so that during his teenage years his artistic activity proved as a life sustainer for him.

With 16 years of age, he was accepted to the "Kunstgewerbeschule" in Lucerne. Again, just like the public schools, this school was a miss match for Patrick for he sought artistic instruction that would get him closer to his personal vision, which at the time ran contrary to the post world war 2 artistic ideologies this school was firmly promoting.

Disillusioned, Patrick engaged in various autodidactic studies of artistic nature besides drawing and painting such as writing and sculpting. He then got a chance to study at a university in America (BYU). The degree in art he earned there represented Patrick's ability to endure and tolerate a system within he found himself again off the beaten path.

Then in 1990, Patrick made the acquaintance of Richard Lack, Annette Le Sueur and Steven Levin in Minnesota. Studying art under their guidance proved fruitful and brought Patrick closer to the realization of his vision. They shared with him a vast amount of information pertaining the art of painting and provided a setting conducive to the study of nature.

After one year of teaching at the Minnesota River School of fine art, in 1995, Patrick was granted a scholarship at the New York Academy of art, where the instruction of Randy Melick and Vincent Desiderio had an impact on him. He received his masters degree from the Academy, by now able to dodge social politics sufficiently well as to not being deterred from his steady walk on the sidelines of the art world. 

Patrick's extensive education later sparked an interest in teaching. He has taught many years long and hard out of his own studio and at various institutions including as a full time professor at a University (UVU). Recently the teaching is increasingly taking the backstage -being reduced to teaching workshops to free up more time for painting.

Thanks for visiting!
Patrick Devonas