Issue #48: Winter Works and Wanderings

Winter is My Time to Reflect and Prepare

After reviewing 2018, my work summed up to 11 murals and 6 design projects. This was enough to keep me very busy and resulted in the most amount of time I've held a paintbrush in 1 year!

Now in the middle of hibernation, I'm back to graphic designing and sending in submissions and quotes in hopes of receiving more amazing murals and clients to work with this year. Among snow falls and design events, I've also been venturing into some mysterious, monochromatic winter-scapes and have been inspired by other artists, designers and ecologists.

Explore below to find snow-covered trees, collections of sepia-toned plant silhouettes, and projects in the works. And I'll leave you with a few links to people doing great things in both art and nature: By Nature's living walls, the new MOCA Toronto and the Eco Design Symposium.

Enjoy the snow, Spring will soon be here!

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Thank you for hearting art,
Pam ❤

Issue #43: City Selfie

Greetings from Toronto

The hotel's goal for the mural was to welcome guests and inspire them to take a selfie with it. So I designed a colourful view of iconic buildings that guests may visit during their stay in Toronto. An interactive swing allows them to sit against the wall and hold onto the ropes. An aerial perspective of the city looks Southward, from the Holiday Inn's location at Yorkdale to the waterfront. Voila—their selfie looks as though they're swinging high above the city!

"Each time I caught sight of geese swooping in formation across the sky, I wondered how our life below might look from their perspective, and imagined that, were they ever to indulge in such speculation, the high-rises might seem to them like firs massed in a grove." ~Teju Cole

See more photos and the rest of the issue here...

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Thank you for hearting art,
Pam ❤ 

Issue #40: Medicinal Plant Paint

The Evergreen Brick Works

Trees were starting to turn into Autumn colours as spiritual leader Philip Cote from First Story led us along a waterlily-filled pond. We paused at a cedar tree as he explained the process of making tea from the leaves to prevent pneumonia. I tasted cedar for the very first time—then sumac seeds which also makes a medicinal tea. Funny—I had drawn and made paint from sumac leaves only a few days before!

At the top of the hill, we gathered in a circle while Philip drummed. We passed along burning sweetgrass, smudging ourselves to open up to learn. While I continue to draw and learn about plants, I'm discovering a deeper respect for nature. Nature is all around, offering materials to create art and remedies to keep us healthy. More than ever before, it's important to love nature as much as she loves us.

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." ~Frank Lloyd Wright

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Thank you for hearting art!
❤ Pam

Issue #38: Pam-oramas

Wider Perspectives

This summer, I found myself riding my bike down familiar routes. In February, I painted a mural of Ryerson students, then returned to add more students onto the next wall. In July, I painted a nature mural at The Rock Store, then went back a month later to extend the crystal mountains.

A trip to Canada's East Coast, opened our eyes to jaw dropping landscapes. From Halifax, we drove to the famous lighthouse at Peggy's Cove and to the colourful town of Lunenburg. In Cape Breton, we saw whales spout water in the distant horizon and admired expansive views along the Cabot trail. A ferry to Prince Edward Island, a bike ride along red sand dunes, a walk on the ocean floor when the tide was out... plenty of reasons to make use of the PANO option.

It seemed that as my murals got longer, I saw the world expand into panoramas.

“View life through a wide angle lens attitude and see your horizons broaden.” 
~Stephen Richards

Read the rest of September's Art Letter here. Featuring:
❤ Ryerson University
❤ The Rock Store
❤ Photo Stories: Nova Scotia & PEI

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Thank you for hearting art!
❤ Pam

Issue #37: Rock, Paper, Tails!

Manifestations

As I painted along, the owner of The Rock Store came out to see the progress. Delighted with the mural so far, she told me about the store's original opening party at it's other location 8 years ago. A woman purchased a very unique rock which resulted in a very rewarding sale. A sale that hasn't been matched since—until I started painting this mural!

It could have been luck or coincidence. Or, as she believes, an alignment of positive energies merged between us and the creation of the mural. It's portrayal of crystals, nature and love manifested a special omen for the new Harbord Street store.

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.” ~Albert Einstein

Read the rest of August's Art Letter here. Featuring:
❤ The Rock Store
❤ Tails My Pet Store
❤ Photo Stories: An Urban Walk

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Thank you for hearting art.
❤ Pam

Art Letter #31: Playing Around

"I believed then—in a deep, easy way that is impossible for me as an adult—that there was more to this world than meets the eye. Trees had spirits; the wind spoke. If you followed a toad or a raven deep into the heart of the forest, they were sure to lead you to something magical." –Jennifer McMahon

The Enchanted Playroom

A little girl and her mom... are so excited to spend time in this room! Two trees fill the walls, wrapping around every corner and angled ceiling. A slight breeze sweeps willow branches to the right, towards an oak tree in the opposite corner. A squirrel playfully peeks from behind a trunk while another nibbles at acorns. The girl's favourite, a cardinal, sits upon a light switch while she sings and dances in a beautiful princess dress. Custom designed murals at pamlostracco.com... The Future of Colour Colour Trends seminar at the Interior Design Show... a talk about colours for 2017 and how they're predicted. Science, politics, architecture, economy—pretty much anything that happens in the world, affects our lives and our relationship with colour. Trending topics about artificial life will inspire reflective and smooth materials. Adapting to constant and faster change will invite more transparency, like buildings made of glass walls. I expected to hear about only colour, then left feeling the need to experiment with new materials! Follow along with me on Instagram... Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day and a month full of love and friendship! The iheart is a monthly Art Letter. Read the full issue here or become a member to get it sent directly to your inbox—it's free!

The iheart Art Letter: 2017... Here We Come!

The 30th issue and the 2017th year...

December 2016, The Finale: Quotes on walls in the Graduate Studies offices at Ryerson University.

The geometric pattern in the letters reflects the mural painted in the hallway.

While snow wisped about outside my windows, I snuggled into a wrap twirled several times around me. I sipped hot tea and felt warmed by the fiery orange glow from the heat dish. With the Year Compass in hand, I imagined up a list of new hopes and reoccurring dreams. Goals to reach my desired life that's well-balanced between work and play, health and wealth, learning and experiences.

January 2017, Up Next: Design for a playroom mural of a willow and oak tree with squirrels and a cardinal!

It's quite the list but I do believe the process of writing makes ideas more likely to happen. Even if only a few come true, there's still good reason to look forward to 2017! 

I'd love to hear, how do you turn your wishes into accomplishments?

The Year Ahead: I've been working on creating the perfect calendar planner. 

"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." –Tony Robbins

The iheart is a monthly Art Letter. Read the full issue or subscribe for free to get it sent directly to your inbox. 

A Boat, a Box, and BC

June’s Art Letter is here!

This months topics include:
*Muraling in the Mountains
*Views from a Boat
*Outside the Box Program

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The iheart is a monthly, light-hearted, photographic Art Letter. 

Thank you for reading! 

Art = Nature

I have a theory. Tell me if it's true. I believe art and nature are the same and cannot exist without the other. Nature is an art in itself, creating perfect colour palettes and harmonious shapes. Within all its organic-ness is perfection. How can nature be wrong? It holds an endless supply of lines and patterns. Nature is a terrific source for artists to "draw" from.

My inspiration has always derived from the world I see around me. While going through my photos from Vietnam, I noticed this connection for other artists as well. A figure drawing class in the middle of (what seemed) an abandoned garden. A monk who found eternal youth and happiness from painting thousands of mountain scrolls. A boy who used large leaves as his paint palette. A Canadian example, the iconic style of The Group of Seven. The documentary Painted Land, shows how they loved the natural landscape and spent their lives painting it. It's hard to know which they loved more—painting or being in nature?

Homes and Gardens: 

Look who popped up at the Home and Garden Show!

My little garden-in-a-vase integrating with the Gold Bird Mural.

A sweet bunny adds fun decor to a hydrangea garden.

Beautifully designed metal palm trees by Designer Palms—
and they have coconut lights!

Ask me how to get your own garden mural...

Hanging with Trees: 

Sculpture Gardens at the McMichael Gallery. 

My friend Juli Lyons and I enjoyed a Spring afternoon photographing.

We walked among welcoming sculptures that seemed to
blend perfectly into the landscape.

A jar containing a Haiku poem hangs from each of the sculptures.

6 of The Group of Seven artists lay to rest here,
in a protective circle of rocks.

Check out my available nature-based artwork...

Art, Artists and Nature in Vietnam: 

Surprise Appearances in Gardens.

Mountains of mountain paintings made by a monk
(Dalat, Vietnam).

Nhat paints my portrait (Saigon, Vietnam). 

Mr. Thuc, the monk artist, looks much younger than his 65 years. 

Leaves used as a paint palette (Luang Prabang, Laos). 

Carving in the back garden of a restaurant run by an artist
(Kon Tum, Vietnam). 

This figure drawing class was completely hidden in the massive gardens of the Forbidden Purple City (Hue, Vietnam).

Follow the last month of my 1 year adventure on Instagram...

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Vitamin Sea

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." —Robert Wyland

I just had an incredible break. For an entire week, I began each morning, with sunglasses on, and looked out onto a bright, beautiful view.

The air was so warm and the water so blue—it made me feel invigorated, alive and refreshed. The perfect escape from the cold—and... it was here, in Toronto!

No need to step on a plane to warm up those winter blues. Sweet Olenka's new shop on Queen West makes a fantastic selection of ice cream and chocolate, best eaten by the sunny beach mural!

The mural was painted onto a piece of fabric that hangs in front of a wall-sized light box. When backlit, the colours from the translucent fabric paint, illuminated the whole shop. 

The lights emitted heat, that felt like rays of sunshine on my face. I couldn't help but feel warm and cheery all day. 

Oh, and the couple of truffle breaks may have contributed to that feeling as well :) 

Would you like your own mural? Email me for your custom quote, or check out more murals on my website.