Patricia Lee Warfield Jinishian

Bridgeport - Patricia Lee Warfield Jinishian, 77, of Bridgeport, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, after a brief illness.

Patricia was born Patricia Trimp, to Milton and Virginia Trimp, in St. Louis, Mo. Within 15 months, her father had succumbed to cancer and shortly thereafter her mother remarried Ray Warfield of New Canaan. She grew up in New Canaan. Patricia retained the Warfield surname for her career as a professional artist and teacher. After showing her creative talents at a young age, she won a scholarship to the Silvermine College of Art in New Canaan.

After graduating, she became a popular teacher of art known for her warmth, innovative techniques and incredible energy. Patricia was an instructor of painting, drawing, print-making and ceramics at many art studios in Connecticut including the Silvermine Guild of Artists in New Canaan for over 25 years; Wooster Art Center in Danbury for 10 years and Warfield Art Workshop in Stonington for seven years.

Over the years her most significant personal art projects included a 27' pastel mural of the Rodeo at Jackson Hole, Wyoming; 135 drawings documenting the "Trial of the Century" of O.J. Simpson; several large-scale-paintings of Cigars and Animal Trophy Heads; a Scarecrow Series: eight paintings; two 7' Black Macramé Crow sculptures; and a '9/ 11' Series including three paintings and an Anti-War Series of three paintings.

Patricia had been affiliated with art galleries including the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery in Fairfield; Westport Art Center, Westport; Sailor's Valentine Gallery, Nantucket, Mass.; Anguilla Gallery, Stonington; Stoneledge Gallery, Noank; Silvermine Guild of Artists; Art Place, Westport; Private Collector's Gallery, Cork, Ireland; Galleria de Bellardo, New York, N.Y., and North Truro Art Gallery; She was a member of National Arts Club of New York. Her exhibitions have included: The New York Yacht Club, Harbour Court, Newport, R.I.; The Union League Club Gallery, New York, N.Y.; Rooms With a View, Southport; Seaman's Church Institute Gallery, New York, N.Y.; Mystic Art Association, Mystic; Old Lyme Academy of Art, Old Lyme. Ms. Warfield had five One -Woman Shows, and 50 Group Exhibitions at Silvermine Guild of Art, Norwalk and exhibited in over 50 Group Exhibitions at Wooster Art Center in Wooster, Mass. She has also participated in over 75 Juried Exhibitions from 1957 to the present. Some of these include Art of the Northeast; Springfield Art League; New England Print Exhibit and New Haven Festival of Art.

Patricia is survived by her husband, J. Russell Jinishian; her two children, Tobey Franco of Bridgeport and Kai Kauppi of Durango, Colo.; her twin sister, Barbara Zacavish, formerly of Weston; and five half-siblings, Ellen Saunders, Harry, William, Dennis and Donald Warfield.

Her friends and family are invited to attend a gathering to remember her at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at the Silvermine Guild Center for the Arts, 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Patricia Warfield Jinishian Memorial Scholarship Fund to support the education of aspiring young artists at the Silvermine Guild Center for the Arts. Contributions may be made out to: Silvermine Guild Center for the Arts, and mailed to: Patricia Warfield Jinishian Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 392, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield Center.