Meet Daria Pardue: Artist, Designer, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daria Pardue and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daria, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Sundara Day came about through the desire to give a voice to my art and inspire others. My children and I took on a winter project of constructing vision boards, and during the process, I realized I needed a centerpiece for my board. I created a figure in a meditative pose and surrounded her with words of encouragement and statements of truth; I loved the outcome so much that I decided to make several and placed them throughout my home. They helped me stay focused on my goals, reminded me to be grateful throughout the day, and created a level of accountability for me. I realized the same could benefit others as well, so I went to work on making more!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
There are three primary facets to the art I create. In the most current form, my watercolor prints for Sundara Day are all about giving someone a tool to set intentions and stay focused on their goals, and you can view a few examples of these here. Next, I have a background in textile design and a love for painting silk. Lastly, my passion for abstract art and its complexities keeps me constantly exploring, whether it be pushing the boundaries within myself or trying new techniques for expressing my creativity. I enjoy the challenge of digging deep inside and having those feelings reflect in my work, with the larger goal of hopefully then resonating with others out there. I refer to 2020 as the year of fear and have spent a lot of time experimenting with how to break through those confines while using art as a conduit for developing more courage. One of the hardest challenges for me is promoting myself, as I find putting myself out there on social media difficult for various reasons. I am aiming to gain persistence there and am working to make it a higher priority. I realize that it is important, but I find the time balance a real challenge.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
At this strange time of life, my out-of-town guest would be treated to my home cooking, hiking some of the trails around Atlanta like Kennesaw Mountain, and singing by the fire while my husband strums the guitar. When we venture out, Roswell has some delicious restaurants with outdoor seating and some fabulous antique stores like City Antiques and Interior Arts. Once the world returns to some form of “normal,” it is always fun to take visitors exploring around the quirky areas of Little Five Points, Virginia Highlands, and Ponce City Market. These places offer unique shopping and eating, and they are also fun places to “people watch.” The High Museum, Chastain Park, and dinner at Bones are also some of my favorites. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Creating a business and selling my art is a goal I have been working on for several years, and during that time, my children have been patient with my work time and very encouraging along the way. My husband is always ready to take photos for me or create amazing videos for my website. My Mom, an artist herself and always an inspiration. The first person I showed my ideas for Sundara Day to is the successful, talented artist and friend Paula Brett. She spent several hours of her personal time with me, asking questions and giving me suggestions. Monica Kerik, with a LifeFullofGoodness.com, has not only encouraged me but asked the tough questions to propel my process forward. And I believe my faith in God gives me the foundation to never give up.

Website: www.SundaraDay.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sundaraday

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SundaraDayShop

Other: www.Etsy.com/shop/SundaraDay Images by Dave Pardue Amanda Tanner

Image Credits
Dave Pardue Amanda Tanner