Select a Series

For WEST OF 3:00AM, Paxton traveled through West Texas and along the West Coast, which inspired her to photograph the contrasting environments intertwined by the concept of marking the landscape with lucid squares slicing through, resting in and defining the scale of the planes. When she visited Joshua Tree, however, her experience transitioned the work from envisioning almost solid structures to imagining a physical expression of her soul, her light, moving through the space. This same perception translated to Chino Hills and other parts of California. The abstractions began very linearly – with the square forms. Rigid yet bright. Moving into more of a sporadic pattern – neon lights characterized by the emotions she felt in the space.

"For me the squares are hinderances. They represent the concept of me putting up emotional barriers that are dappled throughout the landscape, cutting through the planes, pinpointing a moment in my life. As time moves on, we stumble along the way to get to where we need to be. They are lucid for a reason. Seeing the path I can not reach. The squares transition and progress into a neon form. There’s more of a freedom here. Nothing is holding me back anymore. I am free to wander. This is my journey. What route will I take next?” -PM-

Paxton's surreal works invite the outside world to step inside snapshots of her dreams. For several years, she has woken up from vivid dreams, often in the middle of the night, and drawn the images composed on the backs of her eyelids. At times, she even engages in lucid dreaming throughout the day as she’s “trained her brain” to create new chimera for her portraiture. Then, when she has scouted out the perfect location, she begins painstakingly reconstructing the scenes of her subliminal imagination.

For Paxton, her dreams aren’t stories so much as they are symbolic images that tend to reveal a deeper meaning. Instead, the stories are composed through bringing these images to life through her photography and then compiling them into cohesive series.

This is Paxton's new medium where she can create any daydream she has in explicit detail by jotting down her vivid thoughts and having them interpreted through AI. Words have meaning and Paxton's words are now visually represented in a very unique style reminiscent of her composite photographic images. While she battles a disease, these keep her mind busy and entertained while she can not shoot.  

From my travels...

The Series "Native" is a progression from the series titled "West of 3:00 AM". It is a minimalist point of view through the lucid squares in the landscapes of West Texas created in "West of 3:00 AM". A journey taken into the wilderness... standing directly in front of the luminescent structure built into the planes of the landscape... peering through it. A new perspective on still life imagery through the artists eyes.

For the series "THEN MY SOUL SAW YOU", Paxton loosened the reins a bit on her process, creating pieces that are more organic, less constrained. And as a result, this collection portrays another, perhaps more vulnerable side of the artist. Augmenting her signature composite work with ominous clouds of watercolor, Paxton illustrates a struggle with anxiety, doubt and sadness countered by rigid lines of stringwork – a creative endeavor to understand the darkness and regain control.

Collage / Gouache / Acrylics +

RIFT VALLEY is a progressive series. An abstract minimalist interpretation of the overview of this earth and its deep cavernous formations. The color and wabi-sabi nature of the artworks are what catch your eye initially but Paxton would encourage you to look beyond that and focus on the negative spaces. She is always drawn to simplicity and symbolism that can hold a deeper meaning.

“There are Rift's and Valley's in all of our life experiences. It is how we overcome them that matters most. Allowing us to appreciate those steep walls we had to climb so that we could see the light and color that is up ahead.”

The series titled "ANSCOFLEX" was created in Archer City, TX and was shot digitally through the viewfinder of her Anscoflex camera. One may question why she didn't just use film? Whether it is a single image, her digitally composited work or her mixed media, Paxton is always intentional with her process.  As you take a peek through the glass, a sense of presence is allowed.