Category: Self-actualization

A New Book Is Coming

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“As I begin my story and describe an important first picture, I will take a moment to paint the background. When one thinks of creating a new painting, the background is the first thing that needs to be laid down. With the appropriate background, the things in the foreground are noticed more easily.” An excerpt from my new work in progress. “Drawn by the Light, Finding Strength in Dark Spaces.”

After five years of procrastination I have finally hired an editor and started working on my book. For the longest time I did not know how to start. Fear can stop you dead in your tracks. This year I promised myself that I would be unstoppable, so here I am. Six Chapters in to my faith journey and how it has influenced my art. This is the tentative Cover.

It will be a beautiful book, full of art and hope. Release date should be sometime in July.

~Pam~

 

Reaching Your Highest Potential

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REACHING UP

Reaching High 24″ X 24″   TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PAINTING

As you know I love to paint inspiring and up-lifting pieces.  I thought these Cone Flowers were just right for that kind of motivation.  Stretching themselves to reach to the sun, they are the tallest plants in this garden.  Just like these Cone Flowers we should be reaching ever upward, seeking to have a most productive and joyous life. Being the best we can be, and living the life of our dreams.  It doesn’t matter what stage of life we are in, we can always look forward to greatness, joy and abundance.  Whether that means we volunteer our time to help others, travel to places we have always wanted to go, or seek new talents, we can always reach our highest potential.

Go out this week and find the time to do something wonderful.

Pamela is an Art workshop instructor, and a motivational teacher.   To find her CLASSES and  to enjoy her Positive-Energy ART

Becoming a Painter

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“Iris”  16″ X 16″  Learn More About This Painting

Hi Friends,

I didn’t start painting until I was 40 years old.  Some people might think that a true painter would be innately born to be a painter.  Maybe I was but life didn’t present me with the desire till I was older.

My father was a wonderful painter and professional artist, I would sit hours by his side and watch him paint.  He would teach me about color, perspective and composition. Yet I never put them into practice. I idolized him, and then he was gone, at fifteen I became broken when my father suddenly died.  I never picked up a brush after that for the first half of my life.

My husband was in the Air Force and he was up for transfer to another base. So we visited Kirkland AFB near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  A friend I was working with suggested I visit Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O’Keeffe painted.  My epiphany came when I walked in her shoes in the beautiful New Mexico soil. It brought up the long shackled desire to paint.

It became my passion and the Yin to my Yang of self-preservation while working in the field of Child Welfare. It became my joy and my spark to igniting a creative life.  My father was at my back spurring me along.

That is why I believe it is never to late to find your passion. If it is visual art then pick up that brush, mold some clay or weld some metal. Join your local art’s guild find some classes or workshops, find the joy in life.

Never stop finding your true calling.

Pam

 

Thriving

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“Thriving” 10″ X 10″  LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PAINTING      

Hi Friends,

We all want to feel like we are thriving, but sometimes that perception is hard to accept. This happens a lot to artists; it is the culture of art, the mystic of art.  Actually it is the fault of Vincent van Gogh!  After all van Gogh only sold one painting in his entire career, so he was the first and foremost “Starving Artist:.

So I try to thrive, and fortunately have never had to starve. I diversify my assets.  What are my assets? I could include my portfolio, but that is between me and my broker, what I really want to talk about is my skill sets.

I paint powerful, energy driven paintings full of color and movement.  They come from my faith-based life, the spiritual side of me, the side that finds joy in life, the side that want’s to lift others spirits.  My other skill set is actually two-fold, the therapist and teacher side of me.  I use these skills in my workshops and individual lessons and soon in my on-line classes.  I diversify these skills to create my purpose: “to lift people’s spirits and bring people to wholeness, by finding the beauty in this world.” 

It’s not a bad way to live, doing what I love and know best. Thriving in a beautiful art career, and helping people lift their spirits.  Let’s take the Starving out of the Artist.

Pam

 

 

My #1 question? What’s yours?

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PRESCOTT SUNRISE, 16 X 16 ACRYLIC ON 1 1:2 GALLERY WRAP CANVAS, $320.00 BY PAMELA DUNMIRE

“Prescott Sunrise”   Learn more about this painting

Hi Friends,

Today is a question and answer session.  So I will try to answer the #1 question that people ask about my art and let you ask me some.

People always ask,  “Why do I paint what I do?”

Short answer is that it makes me happy, but the long answer is more complicated. My previous career was in Social Work; twenty years working with families, with a Masters in Counseling Psychology .

I saw that people who had broken spirits rarely picked themselves up. A single reflection of hope, in many cases, could be the trigger to make all the difference. Art became my solace after a long day of helping others who were stuck in a mire of self-destruction and hopelessness. It brought normalcy and hope to my life, so why couldn’t it bring this to others? If I were able to help a person move into a positive direction simply by viewing my art or teaching them how to create their own art they could look at life differently and change their lives for the better.

It is little wonder I try to find that spark of hope in all I do. As an artist the themes of hope and positive energy carry through all my work. I choose to paint art that is full of movement, positive-energy, and color to uplift my spirit and the spirits of others. Through my workshops I teach others to find wholeness through art.

So there you have it… I paint to heal grief, disappointment, and failure. I paint to give hope to others. I paint to help people have a joyous life.

So ask away, and then let me ask you how my art can help?  When it comes to picking art for your environment, what is your single greatest challenge?

Have a great day and continue enjoying life to its fullest.

Pam

 

Painting Flowers

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Spring Garden  12″ X 16″ Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

One of my new students asked if I could show her how I create flowers, this is the demo I created during the lesson.  Basically this is hundreds of random strokes. One  layer upon the other, fluctuating between light and dark; building up one layer at a time to create color, energy and movement.  In the process a lot of texture is laid on the canvas.

This technique is the underpinning of all my work, layer upon layer, color upon color.  This leads to a loose contemporary feel.  I love working with students.  Teaching is really my superpower and moving an artist into their best creative self is a joy to me.

If you want to learn how to paint this way, in an intuitive style with lots of color energy and movement.  I have a great workshop in April in the beautiful Ponderosa Pines of Prescott, AZ. Seats are filling up, but there are still one or two waiting for you.  Check it out here

REGISTER TODAY

April Workshop

Two day acrylic workshop in the cool pines of Prescott. April 20-21 9-4 each day.

$150.00

Morning On The Mesa

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Morning On The Mesa

“Morning On The Mesa” 12″ X 13″ Acrylic on Gallery Wrap

Wow, this is my first post of 2018 because of six weeks working on a Wizard of Oz set for our local Youth Theater.  As their set designer I have been busy down in the basement of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Prescott, AZ creating a large, 7′ X 12′ story book that will be the backdrop (Center Stage) for the show.  But more about that on a later post.

So you can image how exciting it was to finally paint for fun today.  So I choose some of my favorite colors, purple and teal, and used their softest hue for each by adding white and formed a pastel palette.  Then I took my favorite subject a desert mesa and added a river (always wanting to quench my thirst) then drew my inspiration from memories.  A soft, dreamy painting of a sunrise, that mirrors my expectations for a new beginning to 2018; a year of possibilities in the studio for teaching, showing and selling art.

I am so glad to be back in the studio creating one panting at a time…

 

 

SOLITUDE

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SIERRA FALLS

Sierra Falls  14″ X 11″ acrylic on 1 1/2″ gallery wrap canvas

There is nothing better than sitting by a forest falls, water rushing into a silent pool, Jays squawking and sun sparkling on the water.  To me this is a reflection of solitude, and oneness with God.

As I get older I spend more time on spiritual endeavors and less on worldly thoughts. Peace and tranquility is what I yearn for and seek out. A few close friends and love of family is all I need. Solitude becomes my friend.

Alone with my thoughts, one painting at a time…

 

Sierra Falls (One of a kind Original Acrylic Painting)

One of a kind Original 16" X 12" acrylic painting on 1 1/2" gallerywrap canvas, sides painted black and ready to hang. Originally $240.00. Year end sale discounts of 40% and FREE SHIPPING burings this to $154.00 1 only

$154.00

MY WHY, how I came to be the artist I am.

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River Bank  30″ X 30″ Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Here is a flash back from 2014 when I began to paint bigger and bolder with Color, Energy and Movement. At that time I was in an experimental stage with my art and not knowing where it would lead me. Little did I know that 2014 would be the pivotal year in defining my work and finding my voice.

It certainly didn’t happen all at once but with a conscious effort to dig deep into my inner self I discovered my “WHY” ( why do I paint).  It took an extensive and intense workshop in North Carolina, and much soul-searching to find the Why of my art.  Slowly my work became more cohesive, more me, and I was able to speak to its depth of meaning. It now defines who I am, and who my audience is. It has made all the difference in how successful I have become.  As an artist who struggled I can only say you must know where your WHY comes from in order to be great at what you do. Art now defines my life, gives me a voice to speak about a future of abundance, and helps others find the happiness that I have found.

Finding my WHY one painting at a time…

REFLECTIONS

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Reflecting Home  30″ X 30″ Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Today I am feeling quite melancholy, I think I am coming off the high of a great Open Studio Tour, some unexpected sales and a successful talk.  Exhaustion has settled in and I am sharing my vulnerable self.  The studio has become a working place more than a creative space. I have several pet portraits in various stages of development for customers, but I have not found time to create for me.

When I begin to feel overloaded like I do today I turn toward reflection. A time to look back and ponder how I got to this place. It is not always easy to consistently be up to the task of growing a business. Especially at my age, people say why haven’t you retired. The answer to that is simply, I like what I do. I find purpose in my mission of spreading joy and happiness to those who stumble upon my work. I love spreading positive energy through my workshops, talks, and paintings.  I love collaborating with other positive people and bringing something new and different into the world. I thrive on that spark of creativity.

It becomes more difficult each year as my energy drains faster than my ideas. So I have learned to pace myself, say NO when I have to, and pick what is important and let the rest slide.  Now is the time to nurture my soul and talk to my kids and let them know how much I love them and go on a much-needed date with my husband.

Journeying  through the ups and downs of life one painting at a time…