Makers series: Scout Dunbar
There are many things I love about Tucson, but one of the undeniable draws to this beautiful city is the creative energy. There are some incredible artists and makers who make up the community here and its ever inspiring. I’m excited to pick up where our Makers Series left off with a very special and talented Tucson artist, Scout Dunbar.
I have been a fan of Scout’s work for a few years now, and was initially drawn to her mix of materials with colored pencils and ink. Her work initially felt delicate and soft to me, but at the same time powerful and intentional. The longer you stare at each piece, the more you get sucked in. Her paintings embody what so many of us love about the Southwest: the soft and calming color palette, dreamy landscapes, and desert whimsy. I’m honored to have a custom piece of ours in our home, seen below, which I’ll be sharing more of real soon.
For now, kick back, take a peek into Scout’s studio and let’s dive in.
Diving Deeper with Scout Dunbar
Where do you call home?
I call a few places home. I’m from Ithaca, NY, but I now live in Tucson! I spend my summers with family in Maine and Ithaca so I’m beginning to call all three places home.
How did you find your way to painting and your specific style?
I began developing my style while taking various printmaking and mixed media classes in undergrad while earning my BFA in studio art. While living in NYC after college, I became interested in using drawing materials such as color pencils and ink. I didn’t have the access or funds to printmaking equipment, so I began exploring simpler techniques in my apartment. Once I moved to the Southwest in 2017, I became immediately inspired by the desert landscape and its soft, subtle palette.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I begin my day with tea and my planner, and slowly move into the studio around mid-morning. Every day looks a bit different. Some days I spend all day making work and others I’m focused on the administrative tasks. I enjoy thinking as both and artist and business owner, so luckily I get enjoyment out of most aspects of my career.
You always seem to be popping up at local events in Arizona. Why do you feel it’s important to support local makers and creators?
I love participating in local market events. We are all so lucky that Tucson offers so many opportunities for artists and collectors to share and collect art. When we support local and small businesses, we enrich our own lives and the lives of others. It allows us to connect to real people and items they have poured their love into. Purchasing artwork can be an investment and it doesn’t always feel like the most practical way to spend money, but the joy it can bring to people’s lives makes a difference. Now more than ever we need to be dedicated to supporting one another, and buying from local and small businesses is a really simple and rewarding way of doing so.
You have such delicate and detailed aspects in your paintings but they also manage to feel loose and free, almost unpredictable. What has drawn you to the whimsical feeling featured in your work?
Great question! It’s hard to pin point. Sometimes I’ll finish a piece, hang it up in the house and a month later look at it and wonder, “who the heck made that?” Meaning, theres a source deep within that is reached when creating art. For me intuition guides a lot of my decision making, so while I draw a lot of inspiration from the external world, as a piece unfolds it taps into some deeper place. You could call it spirit or soul perhaps, it’s hard to describe. And of course there are always external influences such as the work of other artists. It’s impossible for me not to mention some of my favorite artists such as Joan Miro and Paul Klee when talking about my work. They are influential in what I do although I try to keep them at a distance so I can maintain my own unique voice and language.
What’s one of you favorite pieces that you’ve created and why?
I love this piece titled Picnic at Horton Pasture. Something unfolded during the making of it that is hard for me to retrace or return to. The colors are bolder and shapes simpler than my other pieces. And yet, theres a compositional complexity that I’m struggling to re-create. It is also a piece about one of my favorite places to visit back home in the Finger Lakes, so having it around helps me feel connected to my roots.
When you’re not painting and sketching, what are you doing?
I have to admit, I love spreadsheets and organizing numbers and data. So, I spend a lot of my free time doing administrative work for the business! However my connection to nature is extremely important to me, so I hike and trail run as well. I’ve also been getting into spinning and yoga. I travel a bit too and have recently returned from a trip to Sri Lanka!
If you had a time machine, where would you go and why?
I’d definitely go back to my childhood and spend more time listening to my grandmothers. It’s a shame they often leave us before adulthood when we need their advice and wisdom the most. I would also go back to the late 1800s and early 1900s to have a chat with some of my favorite artists and maybe try my hand at becoming a respected female artist during a time when men had the upper hand.
One thing you hope people feel when they look at your work?
I want people to feel a sense of lightheartedness and peace when they experience my work, perhaps a respite from whatever challenges they may be facing in their lives. In a world that feels so heavy and serious, I just want to spread joy. I believe one of art’s many functions can be to do just that.
*Follow along with Scout on IG HERE and be sure to check out her beautiful artwork.
*Keep an eye out for more artists in our MAKERS SERIES, coming soon!