Pam Hulvey started taking photography classes while at the University of Illinois in the 1980s, and immediately was hooked. She ultimately graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in photography and now, 25 years later, is still active in photography—personally and professionally.
"I consider what I do at work to be an art form," Hulvey said. "I take the same philosophy with my job as I do with my art: I'm trying to get the absolute best quality that I can working with the patients as I do with my photos and with my art."
Hulvey was interested in art in high school, and then expanded to art and photography in college. She took medical photography classes in college, "because I felt working for a hospital would be steady income, a good fit for me."
Hulvey enjoys traveling worldwide; when she returns home, she often starts drawing her favorite photos, splashing in color. Thus, buildings she photographed in, say, Italy have wild, vibrant, rich colors when she draws them.
Some of Hulvey's art is on display through the end of the year at T. Salon and Gallery, 4705 N. Damen Ave., in Lincoln Square.
"My art is like my children. After I finish a piece, I have to live with it for a while and enjoy it," said Hulvey, who spends up to 15 hours to perfect a piece. Her works include pastels, watercolors and acrylics.
To celebrate her 50th birthday, Hulvey is having a one-person retrospective of her art throughout the month of February in The Sunshine Gallery at Unity in Chicago, 1925 W. Thome Ave.
THE STATS
Age: 49
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Hometown: Danville, has lived in Chicago since 1984
Relationship status: Partnered to Caren Carlson
Job title: Ophthalmic photographer and artist
Sports: Has played tennis and softball in Chicago's gay leagues and still plays volleyball
Cubs or White Sox?: Cubs
Favorite Chicago bars: T's and Big Chicks
Favorite TV show: Modern Family
Little-known fact: Can ride a unicycle
