Meet Pamela Dunmire of Pamela Dunmire Studios in Prescott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Dunmire.

Pamela, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My earliest memories as a kid was watching my father paint and wondering if I could ever be as good as him. That planted the seed for my love of all things artistic. Early on, my creative side expressed its self in music which I still enjoy and perform today. Much of my creativity disguised it’s self during the years I raised my kids and would tug on my senses. So I would design needlepoint pillows, clothing, and dabble in interior design.

I choose a career in Social Work and Counseling Psychology working in Child Welfare and Adoptions. (You know the old saying, “you can’t make any money being an artist.”) 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 I applied this principle while helping others. If I was able to lift peoples spirits and move them into a positive direction through painting; I could help them change their life. Thus began my career as an artist.

I moved to the Phoenix area in 2002, and became a full time artist. In 2004 I moved to Prescott, 90 miles north of Phoenix in the cool mountains and built my studio. I joined Mountain Artists Guild the oldest artist guild in Arizona and eventually became the President of the Guild. I have been in many different galleries through the years but I prefer to sell out of my studio and through my website. www.pameladunmirefineart.com

I do two shows a year, Les Femmes des Montage, a group of ten women who show at the Hassayampa in July and the Prescott Area Studio Tour which is the first weekend in October. I also do pop ups, when I am asked in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

I teach workshops three times a year, and private lessons year round. I have a “Day with the Artist” in the studio where Phoenix artists can join me in the mountains and get out of the heat. I also volunteer my time at Park Avenue Youth Theater, creating 16 of their sets. I found out set design is not so different from studio painting just really big.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Becoming an Artist is never easy. I am a self-taught artist without an MFA so that has closed some doors for me. I like many artists had fears of rejection, and it took many “nos” before the “yeses” started coming. Now I have a following of devoted collectors, mostly because of my own self-promotion. I have also found that it’s one thing to show in a gallery and another to sell in a gallery. The artist has to do just as much promotion as the gallery staff in order to be successful. Just because you are in a gallery does not mean you will thrive.

My advice to newly emerging artists is find your own voice, be honest and professional in your business dealings, and be transparent. People buy art that resinates with them and that includes you as the artist. Tell your story with each painting you create and people who resinate with your story will find you.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pamela Dunmire Studios – what should we know?
Pamela Dunmire Studios has come to symbolize, Positive Energy Art. I find with my background in counseling psychology, my mission has morphed into lifting peoples spirits through art. I find pleasure in mentoring younger less experienced artists, so I offer a wide array of learning experiences through public speaking engagements, workshops, creative and wholeness retreats, and I am soon to launch an on-line course for beginning artists.

Pamela Dunmire Studios is most proud of our collaboration with community programs such as Park Avenue Youth Theater, and Prescott Pops Symphony. We also sponsor The Highlands Center of Natural History through our Les Femmes des Montage Art Show and Sale.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I have found that my previous career as a social worker, working with upper management of social service programs, has prepared me for running my own company. Being a full time artist requires a lot of behind the scenes management on top of studio time to create. I have always been a visionary, and map out my goals and objectives five to ten years out and then get busy creating that dream. I continue to look toward the future. The art world is not stagnate and we are all learning that there are many ways to thrive in this business.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1360 Sierry Peaks Dr.
  Prescott, AZ 86305
• Website: http://www.pameladunmirefineart.com
• Phone: 623-340-9315
• Email: pam@pameladunmirefineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pameladunmirestudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamelaDunmireStudios/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/pameladunmire
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-dunmire

Image Credit:
All images are original acrylic paintings copyrighted to Pamela Dunmire Fine Art Studios

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