REMEMBERING THE GRANITE MOUNTAIN 19........ my way........

The Fallen Rise 10"X10" Fine Art Print.

Today is the one year anniversary of the tragic Yarnell Hill Fire and the loss of the 19 Granite Mountain Hot Shots.   Prescott, AZ is having several memorial remembrances today and this weekend.

A good friend of mine lost a brother-in-law during this tragedy, he was one of the 19 brave hot shots that walked toward the fire that fateful day. His family have chosen not to be in Prescott during the remembrances, they are trying successfully to move past this tragedy and put their lives back together.  Many of the families feel the same way.

Although the community feels this is needed to honor their brave heroes, many of the families just want to get on with life. Each new memorial that springs up continues to remind them of the past and how much they miss their loved one.  It is hardest for the children.

So with heavy heart, I want so much to honor these brave men; I also want to honor the wishes of the families so I will not be attending any of the memorial services accept for the short moment of remembrance we had at church yesterday and my silent prayer uttered for the families today.

During my own feelings of grief and sorrow through the memorials of last year my cathartic response was to paint the above piece. I donated the original to the Memorial Museum that will one day be built. Meanwhile I produced fine art prints that I sold and donated part of the sales to the Yarnell Hill Fire Fund through the Presbyterian Church.  I now have decided to donate funds to the 100 Club for their continuing efforts to help all police officers, fire fighters and first responders.  If you are interested in helping with this project just respond with a comment..... 10"X 10" signed fine art prints are only $25.00 plus Shipping and Handling.

The purple orbs represent the 19 souls of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots.  Purple was the color of their station emblem and I remember all of the beautiful purple balloons that were released as I stood on SR 89 entering Prescott as they brought our heroes home.

It is my small way of helping out all families of first responders.

TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH.....Exhibiting at the 2014 Licensing Expo

2014 LICENSING EXPO AT MANDALAY BAY CONVENTION CENTER, LAS VEGAS

A couple of years ago I had a dream.....to step into the world of Art Licensing. As my thoughts and manifestations took hold, a person came into my life with the same vision.  Mary Esneault, a beautiful artist, and dear friend also wanted to become an art licensor.

Both of us had followed Tara Reed, and Maria Brophy on their blogs to begin to learn the in and outs of the trade.  We decided in June of 2013 to walk the Licensing Expo, and to attend LIMA a Licensing University held during the Expo.  We learned a lot, but also realized that this would be a leap of faith and a lot of hard work over the next year in order to become an exhibitor at the Expo.

On November 7, 2013 I received an email from Kelly Couchee, from Advanstar, the company that puts on the trade show.

"Hi Pamela-

Your paintings are beautiful!
I wanted to get in touch and invite you to exhibit in the 2014 Licensing Expo, June 17-19, in the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
With so many of your peers and competitors on the show floor, I invite you to join us as an exhibitor in 2014! Your vibrant work will really resonate with our attendee base and buyers in publishing, gifts, toys, house & garden, apparel..."

Well you get the picture.....I was flattered and hooked.

Mary was equally intrigued and we decided to deposit our monies and join forces as "Dunmire Esneault Contemporary Designs".

We worked extremely hard the next several months designing collections, painting and photographing our images.  We worked with a great graphic designer Cathy Gibbons to design our beautiful and very classy banners for our booth.  We spent a lot of time, money and energy toward this project.  We ate, worked and slept the Licensing Expo.

We booked our rooms at the Luxor, invited our husbands along.....they became our "GO FORS". Thank you Tom and Jim.  We headed for Sin City, to gamble on our future as Licensing artists.

Dunmire Esneault Contemporary Designs Booth G24

It was one of the most life affirming actions I have taken in my long art career.  It has set me on a path of greatness.  Several large corporation reps, and Directors of Design came by our booth.  We met people from all over the United States and the World.  There are months ahead of daunting work to reign in the contracts.....but it will happen.  Mary and I both stepped away from this Expo very pleased and exhilarated.

Next Step.....possibly Surtex the largest Art and Design Expo. It is at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City May 17-19, 2015.  Penny Sikalis, Vice President of Surtex stopped by our booth and invited us to exhibit.

Mary Esneault and Pamela Dunmire on Opening Day

Yes, those smiles are genuine!!!!!!!! We are heading places.