EXETER — It took Pamela Heiser almost 30 years to figure out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Her dreams of being her own boss recently came true.

Heiser opened Pamela’s Art Galleria at 1951 Wyoming Ave. after falling in love with art all over again. Heiser, 32 of Wyoming, owns and operates the business that offers several different kinds of services, including private lessons, parties and BYOB painting events.

A public grand opening is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.

“I always wanted to be my own boss, but I just never knew what I was going to do,” Heiser said. “Now that I found what I love, I wanted to have my own studio.”

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Although she’s been painting for several years now, it wasn’t until February of this year Heiser decided to chase her dream. That was on a Sunday. By Friday, she signed papers with now-landlord Lindo Sabatini and the rest is history. The gallery opened in mid-April, and has been successful, Heiser said.

“For my whole 20s I just really didn’t know what I wanted to do and what I was good at,” she said. “It was one dead end job after another.”

Heiser admitted she always had a passion for creativity, all the way back to her youngest days. However, while in school and when she began a full-time job, she shied away from that passion. It wasn’t until a life tragedy struck that got her back to the brush.

In September 2011, Heiser lost her best friend, John “Beno” Borzell, in a motorcycle accident. Three days later, her grandfather passed away. Struggling with how to grieve with the pain, a friend told Heiser to pick up a paint brush and see if that helps. She used to draw as a child, but she never painted. Once she picked up the brush, she never put it down.

“I finally found what I love to do,” she said. “I can do it for hours on end. I’ve been working on growing my abilities throughout the years.”

Heiser’s gallery offers dozens of paintings for sale as well. Her definitive medium is abstract, she said. But she doesn’t just throw paint on a canvas, she said. What she does helps her paintings stand apart from the rest.

Heiser uses modeling paste on the canvas to make a 3D effect and raise the piece off the canvas. Once she sculpts the initial design into the piece, she then gets to painting. This helps her paintings come to life, she said. The creativity doesn’t stop there, however. On the back of every canvas, she writes a prayer from a book she purchased following the passing of Borzell and her grandfather.

“It’s a connection to me and the painting,” she said.

At the galleria, Heiser offers her Tipsy Brush adult BYOB classes, as well as mommy and me classes, couples classes, a kids’ camp and even art therapy. With the art therapy, Heiser walks her client through the painting and she said she never knows where it will finish. This way the client has a unique painting, she said.

Heiser is no stranger to working with people, especially kids. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Misericordia University in 2006 and worked with children and families throughout the past several years.

Two years ago, Heiser was commissioned to paint the cover for author Tammy Kubasko’s book “My Gift To You, The Comfort Zone.” The ultimate goal, Heiser said, is to travel the country and show her work in larger galleries. She said if she has to go door-to-door in New York City, she will.

All of Heiser’s prints can be seen on her website at www.plhart.com or on the Pamela’s Art Galleria Facebook page. Each print is for sale, and many of her prints can be seen at local restaurants around the Greater Pittston area. The galleria is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Pamela Heiser, owner of Pamela’s Art Galleria in Exeter, shows a prayer on the back of one of her paintings.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ArtGallery1_nw.jpg.optimal.jpgPamela Heiser, owner of Pamela’s Art Galleria in Exeter, shows a prayer on the back of one of her paintings. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pamela Heiser, left, recently opened Pamela’s Art Galleria in Exeter. At right is her mother Mickey Gardner.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ArtGallery3_nw.jpg.optimal.jpgPamela Heiser, left, recently opened Pamela’s Art Galleria in Exeter. At right is her mother Mickey Gardner. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pamela Heiser, owner of Pamela’s Art Galleria in Exeter, shows how she applies a modeling paste to some of her paintings.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ArtGallery4_nw.jpg.optimal.jpgPamela Heiser, owner of Pamela’s Art Galleria in Exeter, shows how she applies a modeling paste to some of her paintings. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Pamela’s Art Galleria is home to many paintings. This one, ‘City Night Lights,’ is for sale at the galleria.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ArtGallery5_nw.jpg.optimal.jpgPamela’s Art Galleria is home to many paintings. This one, ‘City Night Lights,’ is for sale at the galleria. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

By Nick Wagner

nwagner@timesleader.com

Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick