Issue #44: I Can See Clearly Now

Thank you to Ollie Quinn Toronto for this beautiful testimonial: 

“From our very first meeting with Pam, we were infinitely impressed with both her passion and professionalism. Pam thoughtfully created a concept for a mural that aligned succinctly with our brand’s identity, and fit seamlessly with the neighbourhood our main store is located in. Balancing the visual accuracy of her subject matter (the bilberry plant) with the existing aesthetic of our store’s interior, Pam created a stunning mural that countless OQ customers have fallen in love with since its completion. Working quickly to accommodate a deadline for our International Women’s Day 2018 campaign, Pam’s presence in our boutique was a joy. While she finished painting the mural in a matter of days, we’ll be admiring her beautiful bilberries in our store for years to come.” ~Ollie Quinn

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Thank you for hearting art,
Pam ❤

Issue #42: I Must Break Away

As John Muir says (on all the mugs in town):

"I must break away and get out into the mountains". And that I did! For most of December, 8000-feet up in the Sierra Mountains, I painted and explored with John and Annie Pugh.

From working on a 3-storey scaffold to walking with 2 fabulous Irish Wolfhounds, art and nature blended into one. I learned how to prepare a 16 x 22-foot canvas and walked along pathways of ice crystals. I helped with photo research, a photo shoot and shared some Photoshop tricks. We went to an out-of-town meeting and site visit, followed by a woodland walk where fairies must live. In Santa Cruz, I saw John's incredible Bay in a Bottle mural and connected with his mother, twin brother and their old family albums.

The breakaway revealed a couple perspectives. Trompe L'oeil literally tricked my sense of vision with optical illusions that look real. As well, the incredible scale of everything—the studio, the landscape, (the dogs), combined with an artist who has no limits—expanded my beliefs and aspirations about who I can be and where I can go.

Thank you, John, for bending my mind.

“I'm in love with the sun and with the reflections in the water, and to paint them I would go around the world.” ~Auguste Renoir 

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

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Thank you for hearting art!
❤ Pam

Issue #41: It's a Wrap!

Up in the Mountains

Writing from Truckee, California, I'm surrounded by tall pines and a blanket of snow. Ice crystals form around every plant, leaf and stem. Sun rays beam through trees while falling snowflakes shimmer in their light.

Until this moment, I spent the last few weeks preparing for an internship. Projects were completed or scheduled for January, submissions were written and quotes sent in, a mural was unveiled and a film premiered. Now I'm here where I get to learn the art of Trompe L'oeil from the master himself, John Pugh!

Wishing you all the best while you wrap up your year and enjoy a sparkly holiday!

“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.” ~Michel Legrand

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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

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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! 

A Mountain Mural at Grouse Mountain

Best job yet! Painting + traveling is my dream combination and it actually came true at Grouse Mountain Resort.

Here's the day-by-day progress of my latest mural adventure:

Day 1: Had a beautiful, sunny flight. Warmly picked up at the ferry and up the tram to my amazing cabin. Shown the chalet's wall and introduced to staff. Sorted out a few logistics then visited my grizzly mountain mates:

Flying to Vancouver, I saw the mountains from a higher perspective. 

Airport to train, to ferry, to car, to tram, to... my very own cabin!

Meeting some of the mountain wildlife.

Day 2: Thanks to jet lag, I was up before the café even opened! Started taping up the wall at 7:30am and had all the paint mixed by noon. Layer 1 complete:

Measuring and taping up the wall. 

Mixing the paints to create an even gradient in tones.

Day 3: A steady stream of visitors were coming through after hiking up The Grind. Some commented while others named out the mountains they recognized. Met one of the staff members who had life stories to tell. Layer 2 complete:

Admiring all the people coming through the chalet.

Met Willie, one of the staff standing in front of The Lions,
also known as The Sisters. 

Lots of progress today, only 1 more layer for tomorrow!

Day 4: Finished up the last layer of pine trees and Grouse Mountain's identifier. Patched a couple holes, painted the baseboard and final touch ups. It's finished!

This added detail is called The Cut, indicating Grouse Mountain.

Captured at work from above. (Photo by Ainslie Fincham)

Day 5: Since the mural was painted on time as planned, I spent a day in Vancouver. Sushi in Kitsilano, walk on the beach, saki tasting on Granville Island, boat taxi and the best gluten free pizza I've ever had at Bella Gelateria! Arrived "home" late to catch the last (empty) tram up the mountain:

Enjoyed a perfect day off in Vancouver with my friend Jacqueline.

Without any visitors on board, the tram ride back up the mountain
was eerily dark and silent, while the wind whistled through. 

Day 6: A slow morning to watch my surroundings deeply in a sketch. One last look at the real mountains and then the mountain mural, before I headed off back to the airport:

Savouring one last look at this spectacular view. 

Taking final photos of the completed mural. 

It was so much fun, I want to go back! If you're in BC and would like a mural for your home or business, email me here. Let's make it happen!

Let's make more murals!

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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