Tag: #workingartist

My Favorite Paints

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Golden Fluid Acrylics and Liquitex soft body acrylics

People ask me all the time. ” What paints create that feel of movement in your paintings?”  As most of you know I am an acrylic painter and although I use mainly three professional brands of paint, Golden, Liquitex and Modern Master, my favorite by far are the fluid acrylics and soft body paints.

I especially love the fluid acrylics, the flow rate is like none  other. They smoothly handle with the flat brushes, the fan brushes and liners which I use most often. They also drip nicely and adding water to them creates opportunities for glazing.  They come in yummy colors my favorite being Teal.

If you are an artist and have never tried them, give it a go.  If you are a collector enjoy what they do on a canvas to enhance the movement, color and energy of each painting.

If you are interested in learning more about artists paints or painting in general I will be launching an on-line course later this summer.  It will consist of six modules dealing in mindset, tools, paints, techniques, composition, negative space and many other things that get to the heart of creating art that is creative, intuitive, and full of energy, movement and color.

Let me know if you want to be on my wait list  I am looking for a beta group to test it at a very discounted rate before it goes live to the public; share with a friend who may be interested in this great offer.

As always, live a creative life as possible, enjoy every moment and share the happiness.

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

 

 

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…

HEADING THROUGH THE DESERT

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HEADING THROUGH THE DESERT

“Heading Through The Desert” from my “road trip” series

Sometimes the most memorable, road trips are those closest to home, the day trips. Being that I live in Arizona that usually means traveling through the desert to get someplace.  There is a certain beauty about the desert.  The arid plateau, bursts forth with wildflowers after a life-giving rain.  That is when I love it the most.  The distant mesas of the southwest, give the desert form and beauty.  I become one with the creation.

Those of you who love to road trip have a plethora of beautiful memories.  I can take that memory and bring it to life as a custom painting for your home.  My standard size is 11″ X 14″, but I will create a bigger size for that special place.  All you need to do is contact me HERE. Drop me a comment and we will make it happen.

 

So here’s to Road Tripping, enjoying life and expressing myself one painting at a time.

If you love road tripping or want to see more of my beautiful art join my blog or visit my website.

 

Cruising the Coast

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CRUISING THE COAST

“Cruising The Coast” Acrylic Study on 11′ X 14″ canvas

I could paint this picture blind folded, well actually maybe not but this stretch of the California Rte 101 is etched in my memory.  I commuted to work on this byway for nine years.  OK, in the painting I omitted the hotels, homes and restaurants that dot the shore, but I prefer to paint the coast in its pristine beginnings.  All those hotels, and homes have created traffic on the 101 and that is one of the reasons I no longer live there.  These days I prefer my small mountain town to crazy California traffic jams.

I do miss my ocean breezes and the smell of the salt air, walking the beach and fresh seafood, I could go on and on…. So our last road trip was back to the old stomping grounds around Pismo Beach.  It was perfect timing corresponding with my new “Road Trip” series  which I started this spring and will work on through the summer and into the fall. I hope to have a sweet slugh of painting about road tripping since it is one of the things I like to do best.  Road tripping gives me great inspiration for painting my positive-energy art, and many of these small studies will be inspirations for larger paintings.

So heres to Road Tripping, enjoying life and expressing myself one painting at a time.

If you love road tripping or want to see more of my beautiful art join my blog or visit my website.

 

 

Road Trip Revisited

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Passing Trough Santa Barbara heading home there is this beautiful building in the hills above East Beach

My road trip is over and I am happy to be back home and stepping into the studio. This is when I get the most creative.  Down loading my pictures on to my computer, I can relive my memories and decide what images to paint. This image was taken going 70 miles per hour down the 101, a blurry but romantic image of Santa Barbara.

I decided to paint the emotion and feelings that this image brought up.  I have always liked the architecture of the Santa Barbara area and the feeling of another era of opulence and wealth.  There is this building that is right above East Beach that we pass by each trip, I saw it in the distance and when we approach I snapped this quick shot.  I was amazed that I even got it.  So this is the first painting of the “Road Trip” series that I completed this morning.

This is the beginning of the Study, laying in the colors.

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Now I am detailing the building, (If I only knew the name of it).  If anyone knows add in the comments please.

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Next I start refining the landscape, pushing the image back, adding more drama in the mountains, and correcting the building.

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I finish the piece by putting in the abstract sky, by mark making.  I never want my painting to look photo-real, I prefer the spontaneity of the marks.

The image feels right, the emotion is there of wealth and opulence. And I dream of myself living in this beautiful place over looking East Beach.  Ah, what a life.

Passing Through Santa Barbara

Follow my blog or visit my website for more beautiful paintings

 

 

North of Cuesta Grade

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Driving up the Cuesta Grade

Today was a road trip to North San Luis Obispo County. One of my favorite places for wine and frivolity.

I usually schedule a full day for wineries and a stop in Moro Bay. Today started out cold and overcast by the coast but slowly burnt off as we traveled inland.  Going up the Cuesta Grade, just north of San Luis Obispo, we were heralded with patch works of green and bright yellows from all the winter rains dressing the mountains with wild mustard scattered amongst the wild grasses and live oaks.  We noticed that many of the grape vines were pruned down to stubs and new sets had been planted. No doubt due to the bad drought that this area has witnessed for the last four years. Thank God for the winter rains, for everything looks very healthy now.

We were on a mission to pick up our wine club order from Peachy Canyon Winery so that was our first stop.

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Peachy Canyon Winery, the best place to find a Zinfandel 

Peachy Canyon is a small winery that the locals love best where you will find a great Zinfandel. I have been buying from them for years. I joined their wine club once I moved to Arizona so that I could have their wonderful Zins shipped directly to me.

After visiting with the staff, we continued our tastings of some of the other fine vintners on the Central Coast, and then it was time to fill up with food to soak up all that wine. So we headed south on California Rte. 1 to Moro Bay and my favorite lunch spot, Bayside Cafe.

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Bay Side Cafe, always the best for fresh from the sea fish

OK, I had been waiting all day, heck, all week for this.  A fresh Salmon filet on a pretzel roll and their California Chowder. (Basically clam chowder and green Chilies). The perfect end to a great day of road tripping.  I gathered a ton of reference photos and I can’t wait to get back in the studio to paint the memories.

If you enjoy road tripping or painting the Central Coast, join my blog or visit my website at https://pameladunmirefineart.com

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday In The Studio

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WATERFALL

Water Fall 14″ X 11″ on Paint Board

Today is a rare opportunity to play in the studio, without time constraints or deadlines.  It will be the last time in the Studio for a week since our Road Trip to the Central Coast starts Monday bright and early.  My studio will be plein air on the coast.  Looking forward to it.

Meanwhile, today I decide to go abstract, play with colors and see what happens.  First off the easel is this piece.  So full of energy, very alive.  I can always tell my mood from my paintings.  Today’s start is expectations of fun, excitement and freedom.  I guess I need this upcoming road trip badly.

Using three main colors and their variations created the cohesiveness of the chaotic strokes.  Black gave it drama.  I love mark making and this is pure mark making.  No thought as to what it should become, it definitely is telling a story. Going back to my roots as a child growing up on the water. My happiest places are near the water, and on Monday I will be heading for the Pacific and that’s one large body of water.

Follow me on this fun adventure, for I will be doing some plein air painting on the coast.

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Switching Gears

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WATER WORLD

“Water World” In a private collection

Today is one of those days when I start “Switching Gears”, wrapping up all my projects, that are due now and planning for the week ahead’s media for a marketing blitz.  Then packing and planning for my road trip to the Central Coast of California starting next week.

It always takes me a few days to switch gears…  Frankly it is hard for me to leave the studio. It really is my sanctuary and a place I love to be.  It is my creative space, meditation space, growing space, and retreat. It is where I self-actualize, move from one thought to the next, place one stroke and then another on canvas creating my story.

Road Tripping is a way to gather more inspiration to bring back to my studio; to constantly keep my flow going and to stop the blocks that hit me as a sledge-hammer hits a brick.  So it is time to switch gears, move forward and seek some down time.  Down time to me is seeking the ocean, feeding the gulls, dinning on fresh fish, sipping my favorite wines and visiting old friends.

After a long trek through the deserts of Arizona and California, my first stop will be at Hadley’s.  Here is where I replenish my supply of nuts and the sweet dates that grow in the Coachella Valley, below the towering mountain of San Jacinto.  The wind blasts the hot air captured by the giant arms that whirl along the highway, and I will need a drink to quench my thirst.

As we drive up California Route 101 after the smog and grit of LA, I will switch gears again.  That first waft of salt air and the feel of moisture that gently pats my cheek and caresses me with a kiss, signals it’s time to let go.  The ocean will come into view and the green rolling hills of the Central Coast will beacon to come further and I will have reached my inspiration.

So follow along as I travel on my first “Road Trip” of 2017.  Let’s see where inspiration will lead me as I gather resources for my “Road Trip” series.