Now her vibrant impressionistic depictions of wildlife and farm animals have earned her a dedicated following and exhibits in 11 museums, including the Women’s Museum of California, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum and Texas’ International Museum of Art. She’s represented at galleries such as Jackson’s Rare Gallery of Fine Art.

Griffin will be heading to Jackson — her home away from home, as she calls it — to attend Fall Arts Festival events at Rare, including two days of plein air painting on the deck overlooking Broadway and Town Square.

“The deck at Rare is the best studio in Jackson, because it looks right over the square,” Griffin said.

“Since I now paint in the studio it is great to be out and paint while the kids run around and people ask questions,” she said. “You really do paint to share your work, so this gives me a time to connect with collectors and people who have an interest in what I do.”

Griffin credits her use of vibrant colors and her portrayal of depth in the animals she paints to her background in plein air painting, which allowed her to learn much about wildlife in their natural habitats.

“The colors themselves next to each other create energy,” she said, “and I utilize that energy with the subject of the animals to make them have a life all their own created through the colors and strokes.”

Griffin strives to treat each animal she paints as a unique personality, and that helps viewers feel more connected to her subjects.

“When you see any of the pieces Patricia paints,” said Hollee Armstrong, co-owner of Rare Gallery with her husband, Rick, who also is an artist, “she almost personifies them and their gentle nature, their curiosity and their innocence. It is as if she is an animal whisperer.”

The works are given human names to further the individuality and personality of the animal on the canvas. One example is “Lewis and Clark,” a 72-by-48-inch oil on canvas of two mountain goats that Griffin will showcase during the festival.

“We are trained to think of a herd of bison and not just identify with one of them like we do with a dog,” she said. “They have a unique personality. I hope to encourage the viewer to get that connection and start to see them that way.”

Griffin will attend receptions at Rare, additional opportunities for collectors and art enthusiasts to meet her and hear more about the stories behind each piece.

She will join Rick Armstrong, a contemporary photographer, and bronze sculptor Mark Yale Harris for a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Rare’s bread and butter is representing artists such as Griffin who give nods to traditional Western art styles while bringing out contemporary elements.

“We are pushing very hard to bring contemporary works to Jackson that have elements of the West but may not be traditional ‘Western artists,’” Rick Armstrong said.

He will showcase his latest work during Rare’s Fall Arts Festival events. As a continuation of his series called “Whose The Beast?” he will display conceptual photographs that delve into humanity’s relationship with animals, from pets to prey.

“The Fall Arts Festival is a wonderful time in town to just celebrate art,” Armstrong said.

“We are very fortunate to have such a small town with such a great art presence that can still grow and flourish in different spaces, from Western all the way to contemporary.”

Rare will host 10 artists during the Fall Arts Festival opening night Palates and Palettes gallery walk.

The gallery also will host a closing cocktail party on Sunday, Sept. 20.