Artists

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them
No pets. But, three kids is plenty to feed and house train.

When did you know that you would be an artist?
I was always an artist growing up. Drawing, painting, designing, building. However, I went to college to be an Engineer. It was three years in when I realized I wanted to be a filmmaker and writer instead. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a film degree, but also work as a Creative Director doing graphic design, video production, and marketing using the same visual and written communication skills.

What is your favorite media to work with?
Film/Video/Motion Picture. But, also love writing and graphic design.

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do? Or what do you do when you’re not doing your art?
I love active living. I’m a triathlete and marathoner. I’ve competed in over 50 races including 5 Ironman races around the world and have qualified and competed in the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon. My wife and I love being out hiking, running, or riding. Cycling is my favorite. Most mornings you may get a glimpse of me running or riding around Tucson, enjoying our spectacular weather and desert environment!

My creative process manifests from an interest in our place in Earth’s evolution. We are in a time of extreme change from the climate crisis to acknowledgement of racial disparity, political movements and global responsibility; all issues that will determine life going forward. My current work speaks to naming issues but also calls for solutions. Though we have undoubtedly had the deepest influence on our planet, we are part of the Earth’s process, not separate from it. The questions I seek answers to are what do we want our role to be and how do we want to affect the story?

I create my images by drawing with paper. I keep my work graphic and simple with a straightforward message.

Amy Lynn Bumpus

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?
Lewisville, Texas (outside of Dallas)

Tell us about your family
I have been married for 7 years to my husband Ben Blankenburg. I met Ben when we were both living in Breckenridge, Colorado over 20 years ago. We lived different lives until we reconnected 9 years ago. We lived various places, together, until we landed in Tucson and decided to stay.

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them
no pets (yet)

When did you know that you would be an artist?
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember.

What is your favorite media to work with?
Currently my medium is cut paper. Basically, I draw with paper. I cut up old National Geographic magazines and create original images with a predominant theme being the environment and human nature.

Tell us about your family

My dad is from south Texas, and my mother is from northern Michigan. They met when my father was stationed in northern Michigan when he first joined the military. They could not be more opposite people, so they went ahead and had a Gemini daughter who most definitely feels the polarization of being raised by them! My father now lives in New Mexico with my stepmother and is the most hard-working and high-integrity person I know, and my kind and loving mother is my very best friend. I get my artistic genes from her, and grew up being creative with her and my grandmother (her mother), who also enjoyed making art. 

I have an older sister, whom I have looked up to my whole life. She’s older than me by 13 years, so we have never experienced sibling rivalry of any kind. She was the coolest older sister and my absolute hero growing up, and still is to this day.

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them.

I have one dog, and her name is Lucy. She’s a mix of Australian Cattle Dog, Chihuahua, and Parson Russell Terrier. She’s got one perky ear and one floppy ear, and she’s white with orange patches. She was a rescue, and when we saw her at PACC we made eye contact and the connection was instant. She’s a quirky little thing! She’s super loving, yet independent. She’s very mellow but also high-strung. I always joke that she’s a Gemini like me. We’ve taught her that the signal for going on a walk is dancing, so all we have to do is start a little jig and she gets all excited. 

We had a dog when I was a small child, but other than that Lucy is my very first pet.

My husband and I love her so much! We’ve had her since March 2021, and she’s brought so much warmth and joy to our home. 

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I can’t recall a time that I didn’t know I’d be an artist. I think my abilities were recognized at a young age by my parents and teachers, so it was always supported and encouraged. I can’t say I ever really had a clear vision of what being an artist would look like, I just always knew I’d be doing something creative in life. The most exciting moment for me though, and one that I believe was pivotal in the way I perceived myself as an artist, was in 4^th grade when I began drawing my friends on the school bus during our morning ride. I discovered I was able to create a likeness of them, which was super exciting for me and busted my creative mind wide open. I realized I had the ability to make things look the way I saw them and make them recognizable, and it solidified in my kid brain that I was in fact an artist and would continue to pursue it forever, though at that age it was more of a feeling than a conscious thought.

What is your favorite media to work with?

I love working with acrylic paint the most. I like that it has a quicker dry time and can be built upon easily, that it is forgiving, and the textures it creates. I feel the strongest sensory connection to working with acrylic paint, which makes the process a very visceral experience. As a result I can get lost in the painting process more effortlessly, and the work always benefits from this sense of harmony. 

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do (Tom’s way of asking)? Or, what do you do when you’re not doing your art?

When I’m not making art I am probably thrifting or antiquing with my husband. It’s one of our favorite things to do together! I absolutely love second-hand and vintage fashion, and I get a ton of joy out of adding to my collections of clothing & accessories. I’m always thinking of new and interesting ways to dress creatively. I’m in painting clothes most of the time, so sometimes I’ll get dressed up just to go to the grocery store. Any chance I get, I’ll take! I also enjoy looking at art other people have created, from gallery works, to hand-made jewelry, to driving around and finding things people have painted on their houses. I find inspiration everywhere! And finally, I love listening to and discovering new music, reading, dancing, singing (and practicing my singing impressions!), watching movies, learning about any and everything that I happen to be curious about, and finding ways to harness peace and serenity.

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them

My girlfriend and I adopted the cutest Carin Terrier 2+ years ago from a local rescue. She came from the Mexican side of Nogales, MX. We named her Pilar Garcia. She is a character who cracks us up on a daily basis. She loves people! Everyone who meets her is left with a loving impression of her!

When did you know that you would be an artist?

I knew at a young age I wanted to be an artist (it came and went in waves). I always knew then I could draw. Since then, art has been the part of my life that makes the most sense to me.

What is your favorite media to work with?

Graphic design is my favorite because that medium branches out into all others for me.

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do (Tom’s way of asking)? Or, what do you do when you’re not doing your art?

I was a radio DJ in my 20s. I LOVE music. I have a collection of tapes, records, and mixtapes. I also just got myself a DJ turn table. I am having a ton of fun putting new sounds together and gathering classic sound systems from past eras.

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them.

I have a cute little kitty named IZZY. Short of Isabelle. She got her name when I accidentally picked her from the litter instead of the male I originally came to adopt. I got home and was like wait “Is-he (Izzy) a girl?” Pretty funny and so is she. 😀

When did you know that you would be an artist?

Oh, this is a tough question. I think when I mutually agreed to leave my desk job in 2013 after long nights of practicing my astro-photography. I was starting to get recognized and published for my astral photography pretty quickly and thats when decided I wanted to pursue a life of adventure, photography, and filmmaking. 

What is your favorite media to work with?

I love television and films. Creating jaw-dropping timelapses and photos are my passion right next to directing. There is nothing quite like immersing yourself in nature and creating something beautiful that you can share with the world!

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do? Or what do you do when you’re not doing your art?

I actually do a lot. Growing up I was always into video games. I played a lot and still do and like to think I’m pretty good at it. It’s challenging when playing against other players and keeps my decision making tack sharp. In addition to that, I do a lot of hiking, traveling, and netflix binge watching. I love going to concerts and friend gatherings. I guess you can say I’m a balanced mix of being an extrovert and introvert at the same time haha.

Blending her fine art paintings with her commercial design expertise, she created the Addy Award-winning Desert Dwellers Flash Cards. Inspired by a desire to teach her son about Southwest wildlife, each card contains amusing stories about desert animals from A to Z and features Julie’s acrylic paintings. Local teachers, parents, and grandparents use them to promote literacy and teach children about their environment.

Julie’s favorite medium is using acrylics on canvas. Over the past years, she’s created a series of desert sunsets, landscapes, and animals featured in galleries, calendars, and cards in local retailers. You may have met her at the Made in Tucson Market, Tucson Festival of Books, or other local artist events. 

Julie was awarded the Tucson AdFed Next Generation Award for significantly impacting the advertising industry through leadership, career achievements, and personal qualities inspiring others to excel. 

She’s an organizer for Creative Mornings/Tucson and is active in Startup Tucson and Local First Arizona. She serves as an adjunct instructor for Pima Community College and on their Digital Media Advisory Board. 

Julie Bonner

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?
The gray, cloudy and cold area of Endicott, New York. Opposite our sunny home here in Tucson! I’ve been delighted to call Tucson my home for the past 20 years.

Tell us about your family
I’m an only child. My parents, Jane and Ray, were teachers in New York and were supportive of my creative endeavors. Supplying me with crayons and paper and putting up with my theatrical living room dance shows. All three of us played tennis which I’ve stuck with my entire life. I played for Drexel University and connected with Tucson’s tennis community when I moved here. Tennis eventually led me to meet my husband, Jeff, over at Reffkin (Randolph) Tennis Center. We wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for our continued passion for the sport. Today we have a family of 5, with a few kids playing tennis too!

Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them
I’m an animal lover with allergies. So none right now 🙂 I do love seeing my friend’s pet pics on social, and a lot of my art is of our local wildlife.

When did you know that you would be an artist?
I started telling my parents I wanted to be an artist around 3. I drew on EVERY piece of paper in the house – including some important ones that were left out!

What is your favorite media to work with?
For the past 10 years, it’s been acrylic paint. In high school and college, I worked more with oils. Having my son, Syver, prompted the switch to a faster-drying medium…since I got back into painting more while he was napping!

What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do? Or what do you do when you’re not doing your art?
Spending time with my husband and our three kids. We love playing tennis, riding, and hiking in Tucson. We’re also proud of our new vacation rental that features my art, Bikehaven.

Joe Pagac

The Tucson Gallery Asked Each Artist The Same Questions To Get To Know Them Better

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised here in Tucson. It’s been really amazing to watch the city change over time and really fun to be a part of so many different projects over the years!

 Tell us about your family

I have a really supportive family. My mom really went out of her way to let us try everyting when we were kids so we could figure out what we were good at and passionate about. Both her and my dad took roads less traveled when it came to jobs, and seeing that growing up made anything feel possible. 

 Do you have pets, if yes, tell us about them

I don’t currently have pets. I travel too much for work and for fun. I live out in the desert and if I look outside there are always a ton of animals I can watch. When I have time I like to foster animals.

 When did you know that you would be an artist?

I was always good at art, but I have a lot of different interests. I still don’t know if I’m going to be an artist when I grow up, but I’m having a lot of fun with it right now!

 What is your favorite media to work with?

I like working big. I like paint. Murals is a natural fit for me. 

 What do you do when you’re not doing the voodoo that you do (Tom’s way of asking)? Or, what do you do when you’re not doing your art?

I love the outdoors. I camp, I bike, I travel and see new places, and I hike. I just finished hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. It took 5 1/2 months. Up next is a bicycle trip across all of Europe. I also like costume parties and throw those when I have the time.