Maureen Dunlap: From Software Developer to Full-Time Painter

In a recent episode of the FASO podcast, host Laura Arango Baier interviewed fine artist Maureen Dunlap, who shared her journey from a childhood immersed in traditional oil painting to a career in software development and back to art. Dunlap, now a full-time artist in Durham, North Carolina, discussed her early training at the Ridgewood Art Institute under Arthur Maynard, her disillusionment with abstract expressionism at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and her subsequent pivot to graphic design and front-end development. After being laid off in 2018 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dunlap returned to painting, initially creating quick alla prima pieces before transitioning to highly detailed indirect paintings influenced by Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pre-Raphaelite, and Baroque styles. Her works include seascapes, lace-draped still lifes, and narrative figurative pieces, often set in ornate vintage or trompe l'oeil frames. Dunlap emphasized the importance of setting oneself apart in a saturated market, diversifying income through small works and jewelry, and navigating social media and online sales. She also mentioned her upcoming group show at Golden Belt Arts in Durham, running October through December, and her interest in teaching. The podcast also highlighted her use of technology, such as photo editing to compose still lifes, and her advice for aspiring full-time artists to have another source of income and start slowly.