Amanda Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Amanda Dunbar is a Texas-based artist who gained notoriety at an early age for her oil painting skills. Amanda Dunbar began painting in an after school art class at the age of 12. Her spontaneous and advanced works acquired significant interest immediately. Amanda is currently listed as a prodigy of the visual arts in the current textbooks for advanced university education entitled “Child Psychology” by John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.
Amanda Dunbar’s art can be found in many private and corporate collections around the world and her works have continued to develop and gain momentum among celebrities, art collectors and the art world. At the age of 15, Amanda Dunbar made a decision to become an advocate for children’s and artist’s causes. This garnered her a significant following among youth where she continues to be a role model. Amanda Dunbar took part in a documentary entitled “The Artist in Me” that became a special feature on Mattel’s Barbie as Rapunzel DVD, released in 2002 to inspire creativity among children. She also became an Ambassador to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2004. Amanda Dunbar has been an active philanthropist to numerous children’s charities and artists charities including the Grammy’s Musicares Foundation. ABC World News profiled the artist in 2007 as a “Person of the Week” when Charles Gibson discovered that she had quietly donated over $1M to various causes. Amanda Dunbar frequently speaks to youth, (girls in particular) and artists regarding subjects ranging from body image, business ethics, creativity and education to volunteerism, success a number of other empowering topics.
, Ontario
, and moved to Allen, Texas
with her family. At the end of the eighth grade she signed up for an after-school art class where the instructor asked the class to paint something - anything - so that he could gauge their skill level. Dunbar picked up a brush and created "Mother's Touch", a portrait in the French impressionist style of a woman in a blue dress drying her small daughter after her bath. The impressed instructor quickly notified Dunbar's parents of her ususual skill. When she was young she liked many things such as cooking,drawing, acting, singing, etc. She never knew what she wanted to as she grew up. She thought she could be a nurse like her mother. But, she never thought that her career would be becoming an artist. *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB9CFE51378DB8A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED823213493CAB4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
Amanda Dunbar was born in Thunder Bay
, Ontario Canada. She moved to Ottawa
, Canada at the age of 4 and attended Orleans Wood Elementary School. Dunbar moved with her family to Allen Texas where she attended Ford Middle School and graduated from Allen High School in 2000. *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB9CFE51378DB8A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED823213493CAB4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
Amanda Dunbar graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a BFA in 2004. She graduated cum laude with departmental distinction. *http://smu.edu/alumni/daa/dunbar.asp Amanda Dunbar was named State Artist of Texas in 2005. She went on to study abroad in France
, Italy
and Spain
. She acquired a post baccalaureate certification at the Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art in 2006. In 2006 she also became the youngest honoree on record and is the only painter to date to be inducted into the Governor’s Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. She was 23 at the time and honored in the arts category. She joined an elite group of women that includes notables former First Lady Barbara Bush
and astronaut Sally Ride
. As of November 2009, Amanda Dunbar had completed the requirements for an MA with the exception of thesis and was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from Southern Methodist University for Emerging Leadership. Earlier in the year she was awarded the 2009 Americanism Award by the DAR.
The Early Show, CBS
World News Tonight, ABC *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQKPEUCGW1c
Good Morning Texas, ABC
PBS
CNN News
Designing Texas
Dick Clark's The Other Half
Our Town Hero, CBS 11
Soap Talk
The Spirit of Texas, News 8, ABC
Living Large
The Big Idea, CNBC *http://www.cnbc.com/id/24854799
- Awarded the 2009 DAR "Americanism Award" * http://www.leader-news.com/news/2009/0321/lifestyle/026.html
- 2006 - Inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame. *http://www.twu.edu/TWHF/tw-dunbar.asp
- Ambassador to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children *http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1547
- Certificate of Commendation, United States & U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein.
- Keys to the cities of: Colleyville, Southlake, Grapevine, Allen, TX & West Palm Beach, FL.
- October 14, 2000 designated "Amanda Dunbar Day" by the Mayor of the City of Allen, Texas.
- Texas Health Resources Community Star Award, 2002.
- Commissioned "State Artist of Texas", 2005.
Career
Amanda Dunbar is an altruistic young living American artist who has gained notoriety for her art and philanthropy at a very young age. Amanda Dunbar began painting spontaneously at the age of 12 and began her professional career as an artist with a solo exhibit in Dallas at the age of 16. Of the 68 paintings on display, most sold on the opening night with sales totaling over $500,000.00. The success of her showing prompted national media attention and she has been profiled since in numerous magazines and print media including (but not limited to) People Magazine, Southern Living and ArtNews. She has appeared on numerous high profileTV shows as well including Oprah (twice). Dunbar publicly credits the talk show host for inspiring her business model and philanthropic goals particularly after she took over control of her studio art business from what she considered bad management at the age of 18. Amanda Dunbar is the Founder and CEO of Dunbar Studios in Dallas Texas, a multimillion dollar privately owned company that is supported by several members of her family. She is also the lead designer for the Precious Rebels line of art guitars that launched with Neiman Marcus and Art Basel Miami in 2008. Her art guitars from the collection are among the most expensive guitars in the world. The artist admits that the collection is named as a subtle tribute to Oprah Winfrey, whom the artist states is “the most precious rebel on earth” and remains a significant influence to the artist’s life today.Amanda Dunbar’s art can be found in many private and corporate collections around the world and her works have continued to develop and gain momentum among celebrities, art collectors and the art world. At the age of 15, Amanda Dunbar made a decision to become an advocate for children’s and artist’s causes. This garnered her a significant following among youth where she continues to be a role model. Amanda Dunbar took part in a documentary entitled “The Artist in Me” that became a special feature on Mattel’s Barbie as Rapunzel DVD, released in 2002 to inspire creativity among children. She also became an Ambassador to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2004. Amanda Dunbar has been an active philanthropist to numerous children’s charities and artists charities including the Grammy’s Musicares Foundation. ABC World News profiled the artist in 2007 as a “Person of the Week” when Charles Gibson discovered that she had quietly donated over $1M to various causes. Amanda Dunbar frequently speaks to youth, (girls in particular) and artists regarding subjects ranging from body image, business ethics, creativity and education to volunteerism, success a number of other empowering topics.
Education
Amanda Dunbar was born in Thunder BayThunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and moved to Allen, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
with her family. At the end of the eighth grade she signed up for an after-school art class where the instructor asked the class to paint something - anything - so that he could gauge their skill level. Dunbar picked up a brush and created "Mother's Touch", a portrait in the French impressionist style of a woman in a blue dress drying her small daughter after her bath. The impressed instructor quickly notified Dunbar's parents of her ususual skill. When she was young she liked many things such as cooking,drawing, acting, singing, etc. She never knew what she wanted to as she grew up. She thought she could be a nurse like her mother. But, she never thought that her career would be becoming an artist. *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB9CFE51378DB8A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED823213493CAB4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
Amanda Dunbar was born in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario Canada. She moved to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada at the age of 4 and attended Orleans Wood Elementary School. Dunbar moved with her family to Allen Texas where she attended Ford Middle School and graduated from Allen High School in 2000. *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB9CFE51378DB8A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM *http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED823213493CAB4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
Amanda Dunbar graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a BFA in 2004. She graduated cum laude with departmental distinction. *http://smu.edu/alumni/daa/dunbar.asp Amanda Dunbar was named State Artist of Texas in 2005. She went on to study abroad in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. She acquired a post baccalaureate certification at the Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art in 2006. In 2006 she also became the youngest honoree on record and is the only painter to date to be inducted into the Governor’s Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. She was 23 at the time and honored in the arts category. She joined an elite group of women that includes notables former First Lady Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
and astronaut Sally Ride
Sally Ride
Sally Kristen Ride is an American physicist and a former NASA astronaut. Ride joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman—and then-youngest American, at 32—to enter space...
. As of November 2009, Amanda Dunbar had completed the requirements for an MA with the exception of thesis and was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from Southern Methodist University for Emerging Leadership. Earlier in the year she was awarded the 2009 Americanism Award by the DAR.
Television appearances
The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC *http://books.google.com/books?id=M5uBouAGCGAC&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=oprah+winfrey+amanda+dunbar&source=bl&ots=TQqUM6Cvwr&sig=Zb6TIGR_eZkyhW5xsBDFGaz0BHo&hl=en&ei=xhmOSqnrMYLesgO13KSECw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#v=onepage&q=&f=falseThe Early Show, CBS
World News Tonight, ABC *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQKPEUCGW1c
Good Morning Texas, ABC
PBS
CNN News
Designing Texas
Dick Clark's The Other Half
Our Town Hero, CBS 11
Soap Talk
The Spirit of Texas, News 8, ABC
Living Large
The Big Idea, CNBC *http://www.cnbc.com/id/24854799
Honors and awards
- SMU Distinguished Alumni Award: 2009 *http://smu.edu/alumni/daa/dunbar.asp- Awarded the 2009 DAR "Americanism Award" * http://www.leader-news.com/news/2009/0321/lifestyle/026.html
- 2006 - Inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame. *http://www.twu.edu/TWHF/tw-dunbar.asp
- Ambassador to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children *http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1547
- Certificate of Commendation, United States & U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein.
- Keys to the cities of: Colleyville, Southlake, Grapevine, Allen, TX & West Palm Beach, FL.
- October 14, 2000 designated "Amanda Dunbar Day" by the Mayor of the City of Allen, Texas.
- Texas Health Resources Community Star Award, 2002.
- Commissioned "State Artist of Texas", 2005.