A little bit ABOUT ME

 

  I'm a Country girl Transplanted to Texas from New Mexico. My world of painting started when my daughter was one year old in the 70's. In Bedias, Texas, I took a class at the Civic Center. My teacher called it 'Country Painting'. It was actually decorative painting. I learned mostly from books and using patterns and instructions. I knew I would always Love painting. In the early 80's, I had a shop in Bedias,Tx, called 'The Hen House'. I taught classes there and My Mother was one of my students. My Dad cut wood and projects for our classes. My grandparents lived across the road from my shop. I remember going over to have lunch with them occasionally. My great Aunt and Uncle lived down the street and I would visit them for lunch sometimes too. My uncle made bird houses and doll houses and I would sell them in my shop. I have great family memories from my home town.

I think signs are always going to be popular, and there are endless ideas I still have in my head. When I started painting signs around 1989, I named my business 'This Board's For You'. My son was born that year and my daughter started College two years later. (I KNOW-Huge space of years between) I had to get busy making money somehow. Painting on old boards that were basically free was what I started working with. I like painting on lots of things but rustic weathered boards are my favorite. I try to find weathered wood, but I have to purchase new cedar when I can't find more weathered wood. 

I like to paint many subjects, but Chickens and Flowers were my favorites that I could produce inventory very quickly, and they seemed to be popular. 

In 1995, I named my art business 'Cackleblossums'. 

In 2005 I started designing painting patterns for others to learn, because I had people ask for my design/patterns of my Roosters and Chickens. 'Mr. Cackle' Rooster was my first design to offer. 

I created more designs and was approached by the National Society of Decorative Painting magazine, to let them publish my designs. It was a thrill to get published! 

My designs were in the July 2007 issue. I attended my first ever Painting Convention as a Vendor at the Houston Expo that year. It was fun, but I decided Conventions the stress of setting up a booth at shows was NOT FOR ME. Same goes for Art Shows. 

I am so to have Etsy, because I do NOT like the pressure involved in setting up at Shows. It is so much easier to sell online and Ship to my customers, and it's a HUGE WORLD WIDE WEB store where I can reach so many people right from the comfort of my home with dogs at my feet. I have been fortunate enough to meet wonderful shop owners who wanted to sell my art so that was a huge part of my income. I still sell wholesale. Inquiries please contact me at susanwymola@gmail.com 

My Art has evolved into other directions, Mixed Media, Canvas Art, Watercolors, Paper Cutouts, Air Dry Clay,  etc. I just Paint what I Love and whatever mood strikes me and I work at my own pace.

Signs are still what people like so I will keep doing them as long as I can. My husband, David, is my #1 Partner in crime. He will do whatever needs to be done to keep the progress going. David experienced a Huge loss in 2015, both of his sons ages 29 and 34 died tragically. They were my step sons but we were family for 22 years. David is a trooper to be able to keep on going and stay busy and carry on with life after such a loss.

I like to paint lots of different subjects, but the Popularity of Chickens have chosen the path for me which keeps us in biscuits and gravy, but I like to try new art subjects like flowers, landscapes, and pets. 

When I am producing, I am Happy. 

Retirement? AGE is just a Number. Why would I ever quit painting? It's what I do. And I LOVE my job, and it's not WORK if you LOVE what you do. 

In 2017, my better half was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He got Radiation treatments and then shortly after his last treatment, 

in 2020, I was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis (bone marrow cancer). I was lucky to have learned I could get a Stem Cell Transplant.  It’s been almost 5 years that I’ve been in full remission.  We have both survived Cancer so we are Blessed.  

I have narrowed my art down to watercolors on paper because it’s so much easier for me not having to handle a lot of wood.  I am just painting for me until I get some new art done. I’m still finding my groove. 

Now I spend a lot of time outside gardening for fun. We are growing old gracefully.

Thank You for visiting my Weblog.  Tune in for changes in our adventure here we call LIFE.

Susan Downey Wymola