Home – Paula Zima Studios

A Journey of Art, Inspired by the Heart.

My work explores emotional depth through rounded forms and gentle humor, drawn from observing life with curiosity and affection. Through sculpture, drawing, and painting, I create pieces that invite reflection, spark connection, and support a sense of well-being in the spaces they inhabit.

Whether for a home, public space, or gallery, if our visions align, I’m open to commissions and collaborations with curators, institutions, collectors, and individuals alike. Please feel free to reach out with inquiries.

Available Artwork

I believe there is one loving intelligence that creates all that is, supports, and sustains all of life. I love to share this inspiration through my artwork, primarily painting and sculpture.

Available Sculpture

Handsome Large Frog – w 34”x h 30” x d40” – bronze.

Available Paintings

Red Swimsuit – w 25″ x h 22″ – oil on canvas

Artist’s Story

My original objective was to create art for public spaces. Print-making and sculptures that could be seen by the general public, not just for private viewing. I finally realized there’s nothing wrong with also making art that brings light and life to private spaces.

The first sculpture for public places I created was the Ferro-cement “Stoic Horse,” now located in the San Luis Obispo, California, City-County Library.

Creative Works Portfolio

Sculpture Portfolio

Tuquski’ wa Suwa, Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo, CA

Paintings Available as Fine Art Prints

– The Burial of the Sardine- after Goya w40’x h32″ – Oil on canvas-

Etchings

There’s a BUG in My Soup! – w6’ x h8″ etching with aquatint, hand colored

Drawings

Angels Watching Over Us – w4″ x h5″ You might not think a tiny thing like an angel

Available Other Things

Are you keeping a travel journal and wishing your pages held more than words?

Red Swimsuit

You were my mentor, encouraging me to be an artist instead of something else. You told me to be bold and to do what my heart suggested.

The Rabbit

A large Rabbit is a good thing; there is more to love. This one has found a home on fireside hearths, in gardens, on patios, beside a cozy chair in an office space, on a side table, or on a 3-foot base, which is especially nice for eye contact. Many places suit a Rabbit.

Little Man Holding the World

I’d love to see this one enlarged to a much larger size. I’m one of those people who were inspired by Carl Sagan’s talk about the Small Blue Dot, (About 40 years ago the camera on the Voyager 1 was turned back towards our Earth as it shot out into space and sent back a photo showing the Earth, our home, visible only as a pale blue dot.)

Woman Reading, with a large cat under the bed

Cat’s equal well-being in my mind. They are not always perfect, but there is something Buddha-ish about a contented cat, cozy, smiling, and exuding equanimity.

I do not think deeply about angels other than that they go beyond normal acts of kindness. Yet I hold some fascination about them. To have a pair of wings is similar to a halo.

Bear in the Mission Plaza

My vision for this piece was to honor the two major life forms of this particular area on the central coast of California, as they were before the influx of the Spanish and others from the European continent.The model for the child was a young Chumash girl from the Santa Ynez tribe."

Handsome Large Frog-

He was initially commissioned by a family who asked him to be cast in Bronze.

Wild Ride

A night in Cañon de Chelly, a full moon, a surprise storm, and a flash flood about to break, my companions and I needed to leave quickly; it was a fantastic, wild ride back out of the canyon.