Showcasing Pamela Fry’s Dot Art

I was born with paper and pencil in my hands.  All I needed was alone time and something to draw on. It made life easy for my Mom. My shyness and fears always disappeared during that time. My Aunt Sylvia gifted me with charcoals to continue my joyful experience in art and u drew caricature of t parents which everyone laughed at. I thought it was fun by till I found out later I  could have made money with then.  Next my parents gave me art classes in perspective and I flourished in that aspect because u lines and geometry. 

My first creative art competition was in 1962, a grade school flower show. My parents offered me a place to grow sow some zinnia seeds as the show parameters described. I successfully and happily grew a plot of zinnia and selected one to take to school. Mom provided me a glass coke bottle for transporting my self-grown flower on the bus. Though a laughing stock on the bus and school I still submitted my zinnia. 

My second creative art competition was another grade school art show in 1963 and my teacher, a Church friend, refused my artwork saying I had not completed it without adult assistance. I argued it was all my work and was still refused. My parents shrugged it off telling me there would be other art shows.  And I did; not realizing how deep the hurt was. 

After the movie Mary Poppins was released with animated characters, I found another art show, a chance to go to art school if I did well; I entered.  My drawing was a cartoon character pencil drawn and submitted it. Again I turned down. This time I was too young and told to reapply when I was older which felt a long way off. Nothing held me back and I kept drawing. 

Junior High I was invited, by 

Mrs. Denton, the art class teacher to going art class which I attended until I graduated. I entered all shows at school, expecting nothing as her Mom has taught her. I received honorable mention for my creativeness painting on foil and with pointillism which I use today. 

Nothing came easy for me then except music. 

After highschool I sold custom artwork in Dallas and without enough income I had to work long hours as a floral designer and shop manager. 

With my mom demanding I move out and my painting not what she wanted, I slowly stopped painting, writing music and making up silly poetry. Both art and music thrown into a trash can by 1978. 

For me work was all I was and enough was enough: art and piano became secret past lives and I moved to California with my Arizona barber license and passed California’s exam as well. 

Time passed and paper and pencil were just a scribbling thing or something she did in secret. Like her art, only her cats got to hear her music and see her draw. 

My mom‘s passing in 2018 was a catalyst. I received a few boxes from my brother-in-law of things my sister didn’t want. A box of beautiful quilled paper ornaments my aunt made was included. It all sat until 2019. 

In 2019 my neighbor, Jackie, gave her a beautiful hand-made ornament for Christmas which sparked my interest and I pulled out my Aunts quilled Christmas ornaments.  Art was sneaking back into my life without me realizing it. 

Between my neighbor, Jackie and my Aunt, I would find my way back to the art world with a profound passion for color and design I had never felt before. 

THANK YOU JACKIE AND AUNT SYLVIA!

Today my partner in life, Richard, is my muse. He loves color, me and my art work. With that kind of wealth, I am the happiest woman I know. I wish you all the laughter, happiness, joy and peace I have found and may it be your own version!

Pamela