LOCAL STORIES OCTOBER 25, 2023

Conversations with Pam DeCosmo

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam DeCosmo. 

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started? 

Somewhere in our family photos, there’s a picture of me, at around 4 years old, sitting at the dining room table, getting introduced to how it felt to have a pencil and crayon glide across some paper. I liked it. My mom encouraged me from the beginning, sometimes helping me turn my early drawings into thank-you notes to family members. I love many types of art, but for me nothing compares to a fun, happy image created to make people smile, or a heartfelt handwritten note to tell someone you really care.

Some of my influences growing up were:

– Charles Schultz

– Doris Day

– Barbie

– Various Paper Dolls

– The Love of Dogs and Critters in general

– Retro 60’s inspired Peace, Love, Smiley faces and Daisies, etc.

 

My later education:

Art Scholarship ~ Colorado State University

B.F.A. in Graphic Design ~ Arizona State University

 

Toss all of the above together, and it inspired me to create Miss Dog Dress-Up as the first series from the PJ Happy Art Shop. She was designed to be a fun way to celebrate style with a smile, with new styles always on the way.

 

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Refining creative ideas can take considerable time and effort, but getting things right the way you want them is worth it. I can also wander off track now and then by simply getting all enthusiastic over some new and different thing, and it is a challenge for me sometimes to stay focused and keep my eye on what I’m working to achieve. Add to that the seemingly ever-evolving technical aspects of digital art, websites, and such, and new lessons are always waiting to be learned.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.

I love all types of art, but my specialty has turned out to be whimsical illustration created with the hopes of adding a smile to someone else’s day. PJ Happy Art currently features a hand-drawn, quirky character named Miss Dog. She’s a busy girl with many interests and styles, and they are highlighted in what I call THE MISS DOG DRESS-UP SERIES. She’s a fun, unique, and playfully chic way to tell a special girl in your life that you know and truly appreciate her. I’m inspired and proud to say that PJ Happy Art is “Dedicated to all who make the world a happier, kinder, friendlier place.”

Who else deserves credit for your story?

Although I have an appreciation for many, including all my art instructors throughout my schooling, the person who absolutely deserves credit is my husband, Rick. My Wacom tablet was discovered and gifted to me by Rick. It was a real turning point in how I could draw in the digital medium. I learned everything I know about Photoshop and Painter from him. He’s my collaborator, sounding board, technical and emotional support. He offers me creative input, many times with great out of the box ideas. When creatively brainstorming, we can come from different angles, but in the end, it’s a good balance. I am grateful that Rick is not only my husband but a much-appreciated artistic partner.

Contact Info:

 Website: PJHAPPYART.COM

 Youtube: @pjhappyart307

Image Credits

Photography Credit- Rick DeCosmo

 

Thank you Voyage Phoenix!

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