Pamela Joy Trow of Rockville, Silver Spring on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Pamela Joy Trow shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Pamela Joy, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think many people—and I’m speaking especially to my fellow artists—are secretly struggling with confidence. Either they’ve lost it or they fear they never had enough of it to begin with. It’s rarely spoken about, because admitting it can feel risky: what if it costs you a sale, a job, or the support you’ve worked so hard to build? In recent years, with so much shifting in life and in the world, that quiet struggle has only deepened.

But here’s the truth I’ve seen again and again: confidence isn’t something we either have or don’t have—it’s something we keep rebuilding, together. When we admit the struggle, we open the door to connection, encouragement, and growth. And that’s where our strength as artists really lives.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Pamela Joy Trow, a multidisciplinary artist and storyteller who creates imaginative worlds where mermaids swim alongside sugar skulls, goddesses, and animals. My work is known for its bold color, intricate detail, and playful blend of mythology, fantasy, and cultural traditions.

After years in design and creative direction, I launched The Art of Pamela Joy Trow to bring my original artwork to life through paintings, prints, greeting cards, bookmarks, stickers, paper goods, fiber art, and mixed media. Each collection is inspired by the places I’ve lived—Brooklyn, Atlanta, Santa Fe, Oregon, Florida—and the stories, nature, and traditions that shaped me.

What excites me most is connecting art to people’s everyday lives, whether through a painting that tells a bigger story or a greeting card that carries joy from one hand to another. I also share what I’ve learned with other artists, helping them bring their own work into retail and product-based markets.

Now based in Maryland, I’m energized by new surroundings, new communities, and the chance to grow my studio into its next chapter—infusing my work with fresh inspiration while continuing to celebrate the magic, myth, and meaning at the heart of everything I create.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was in kindergarten, my teacher asked us to draw something that began with the letter we were given. I got “B” and drew a broom. She lit up, gave me big kudos in front of the whole class, and said, “You should be an artist when you grow up.” In that moment, something clicked. I was probably too young to recognize it as “power,” but I remember the spark—this feeling that I had a gift, a direction, a sense of who I could be. It was the first time I understood the impact of creativity and the joy of being seen for it.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
During COVID, I received a grant to create a postcard campaign for the You Good? Campaign, which helped the community know there was one phone number to call for mental health support. The campaign was incredibly successful—the postcards were colorful, culturally inclusive, and distributed in stores and public spaces across the county. Almost none were left.

I decided to enter the campaign into prestigious illustration annual, But the night before the deadline for the Call for Entries, I got cold feet. I was in bed, doubting myself so much I felt almost paralyzed, even depressed. I considered giving up. The next day, I pushed through—and out of 3,689 entries, only 147 awards were given. I won.

I’ll never forget how close I came to quitting, and how powerful it felt to push past that fear. It reminded me that sometimes our biggest breakthroughs come right after we almost give up.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I actually had a conversation about this with friends once, when we were sharing our impressions of each other. A close friend from Bend, OR said, “Connection. You’re all about relationships and connecting with others. Whether that’s family or friends, staying connected matters to you.” Another friend from Atlanta said, “Your commitment to creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork matters most to you. It is your life’s passion. Year after year after year you strive to express yourself in new ways, never compromising your vision.”

Both of these observations captured something essential. Interestingly, each reflects the nature of my relationship with them. The friend in Bend is someone I had lost touch with for over a year, and I worked hard to rebuild that connection—so it’s no surprise she sees connection as my heartbeat. My Atlanta friend and I bonded through our design careers, so of course he recognizes the depth of my commitment to creativity and artistic integrity.

If you asked my closest friends what really matters to me, I think they would all agree: nurturing meaningful connections and creating honest, original work aren’t just things I do—they are who I am.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
Those days are NOW! After spending nine years deeply rooted in the Florida arts scene, I made a huge leap and moved to Silver Spring, Maryland. It’s a fresh start in a brand-new art community, and I couldn’t be more energized.

Back in Florida, the governor’s $30 million cut to the arts shook the foundation of our creative community. Add to that back-to-back hurricanes, and then the devastating loss of my sister—it all became clear that it was time for change. My cousin, who had also faced profound loss, invited me to share an art studio with him here in Maryland. We’re both in creative fields, and it felt like the right place to begin again.

It’s only been two months since I arrived, and already I’ve been in two exhibits, joined my first First Friday, and even sold work. Every day feels like the beginning of something bold and bright. Yes, I’m absolutely tap dancing to work—I can hear the rhythm in my own steps.

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