Art at every opportunity

On display at the Art Shop Gallery through October, “Currents” is an exhibit of acrylic water studies by Homer artist Pam Fraley.

A wife, mother of five and member of the School of Visual Storytelling, Fraley works as a writer and illustrator. In addition to her literary creativity, she also works in the visual arts — pencil, digital and cut paper art and both watercolor and acrylic painting.

“I’m always learning new mediums and I take breaks from art with other art,” Fraley said. “Sometimes it’s discouraging navigating the gap between what I can see in my head and what I have the skills to put on paper, but I work at it and give myself breaks and switch mediums to hit the reset button. I return to acrylic painting as a break from my other projects.”

Approaching painting as a space for play and reflection, the work in this exhibit began as an exploration of light and movement.

“Lately I’ve been interested in learning to capture water and with this body of work I was trying to learn how to paint water,” she said. “I find water, both within us and around us, to be endlessly evocative in reflecting change, memory and wonder.”

Painting from photographs she has seen or taken, as well as videos she shot of waves on Bishop’s Beach and bodies of water in Hawaii, Fraley painted the pieces for “Currents” while listening to music, and so her titles reflect song lyrics.

“Settle,” from the song “There is a Peace” by Harvest is an acrylic and foil painting in pale blue, green and yellow colors and a cloudy sky in the background. The moon appears to set into the ocean in the middle of the painting, and gentle waves are in the foreground. This painting was based on a photo Fraley’s daughter took of the water at Cannon Beach in Oregon last year.

“I wanted to portray the calmness and movement in that photo that exudes peace,” she said.

In “Those three words,” from the song “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, Fraley showcases the motion of waves, painted in pale pink, green, blue, yellow, grey and white.

“I think the thing about waves is that they are such a perfect metaphor for how our lives and relationships ebb and flow,” Fraley said. “And how utterly overwhelming, terrifying and life changing it is to experience real love, trust and vulnerability. I have at times avoided those waves in my life, but I have learned that love is worthwhile. My kids especially have taught me this.”

“Where I feel at home,” from the song “To Build a Home” by the Cinematic Orchestra, depicts a series of overlapping swirls painted in blues, pinks, and yellows on a black background. With this painting, Fraley showcases her love for autumn and rain.

“I feel most at home when the air gets crispy and chilly, the trees start turning shades of yellow and orange and the rain falls,” she said.

Raised near Detroit, Michigan, Fraley was surrounded by art and literature.

“My sister and I grew up going to museums and listening to our parents read us stories from Tolkien and Lewis,” she said. “I would say it was a very art-centric upbringing. Some of my earliest memories are of trying to copy the illustrations in my picture books and stapling together my own little stories to set on the bookshelf with the other books.”

Fraley’s artistic path included many ups and downs along the way. She went to several schools where she was considered gifted and others where her art and writing teachers were critical of her creativity. By the time she graduated high school, she wasn’t sure if she was good at anything.

“I decided to lean into history in college because that’s where I got decent grades and because I was interested in travel and archaeology,” she said. “I met my husband Scott while attending Bible college and my life took a massive turn. We got married and I abandoned my degree when we moved to Homer 20 years ago and started our family. A few years into parenting, I started turning to art and writing as an outlet to help me deal with all the challenges of motherhood and marriage.”

About 15 years ago, after her husband bought her a set of watercolor paints, Fraley began learning how to use them through online resources, including a school for illustration. She also started writing again.

“I think a lot of women believe that having a family, especially instead of a degree and a career, is a setback, but my husband and kids are what pulled me back to myself,” Fraley said. “Those early encounters with people who told me I was no good made me stop pursuing art and I didn’t think it was an option for me. Now I know who I am and I’m beginning to find opportunities to step into art and writing as a career.”

Without a formal education, Fraley has had to get creative in pursuit of learning and disciplined with her time. She has taken classes, watched YouTube videos and studied other people’s work in order to learn skills and techniques. She has also had to take every available opportunity to make art.

“I can often be found drawing or typing on my iPad while waiting for my kids to get out of soccer practice or on the side of the pool at open swim,” she said. “I’ve had to be challenged, encouraged and even pushed all along the way and I’m constantly on the lookout for people I can learn from.”

Fraley sees beauty all around her — clover on a sidewalk, wind blowing through grass, light on a wall.

“I’m always working on something,” she said. “I have dozens of stories started and a ton of in-process art projects. I’m never not working on something. I’m trying to be a living example for my kids — both to work hard for the things you want in life and to be discerning in who you allow to influence and shape you.”

Manuevering through her family and creative life, Fraley has learned to work literally anywhere she finds herself.

“In Stephen King’s book, ‘On Writing,’ his advice amounts to ‘shut the door and don’t come out until you’ve written/made something,’ but I have five kids and I’ve worked very hard to keep my studio open as much as it’s closed so my family can be a part of my journey,” she said. “Our life is busy, so sometimes I have five minutes or 30 seconds or two hours. I make the most of the time and energy I have and take my iPad with me everywhere, just in case there’s opportunity.”

Fraley is grateful to several local artists for their inspiration, including Lauren Simpson, Felicity Jones and Tracy Early. Her first children’s book, “Sad Salad,” was published last year and is available in Homer at the Homer Bookstore, 59 North Creations and Alaska Hardy. Currently completing edits on her first young adult novel, Fraley hopes to start querying agents by the end of the year. Next fall, she will attend an artist residency at the Château D’ Orquevaux International Artist and Writers residence program in France.

“I am equal parts nervous and excited to spend two weeks there working uninterrupted on my craft,” she said. “I honestly can’t even imagine what it would be like to have focused work time for that long. I might need my kids to call me and ask for random things just so I can feel normal.”

With her exhibit, “Currents,” Fraley showcases her love of the ocean and her ongoing practice of painting water. This body of work can be viewed through October at the Art Shop Gallery, 471 E Pioneer Avenue, and online at artshopgallery.com. Find Fraley’s work online at fraleycreates.com.

“Those Three Words” is an acrylic and foil painting by Homer artist Pamela Fraley. Photo provided by Pamela Fraley

“Settle,” an acrylic and foil painting on canvas by Homer artist Pamela Fraley, is one of numerous pieces in her solo exhibit, “Currents,” on display through October 2025 at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Pamela Fraley