Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Whigham
Susan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Sure! I started painting in 1998, and painted as often as I could. There were major slow downs while my kids were younger and while I pursued a different career path. Through the years, I tried different styles and used different mediums but always felt drawn to realism and to traditional oil painting. In 2020, while work was paused, I finally had time to paint all I wanted. My husband gave me his recording studio in our home and for the first time, I was painting in a dedicated space. After years at the kitchen table, this was huge. After surgery in 2022, the return to my previous career was no longer in the cards. At this point I decided I would pursue art full time. I started participating in local art festivals and shows in 2023. January 1, of this year, I opened up a small studio and gallery on the McKinney Square in the Historic District. I still do the dirty work of canvas prep, varnishing and framing at my home studio but I paint in the window of my new space Wednesday through Sunday. I tell folks, if you see me painting in the window at 115 W Virginia St, McKinney, come on in and say Hi.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly not the smoothest but who gets that? I wouldn’t call the role of artist and Mom necessarily “difficult” but it certainly presents challenges. There are the obvious challenges of painting in the common area of a home with small children but the bigger challenge was finding time to create art while also navigating the work/Mom/life/artist balance. In 2021, I had spinal surgery followed by about a year of PT. My husband had to build steps to put in front of my easel so I could move around my paintings easier. By the end of 2024, still struggling with pain, I had to accept that the level physicality needed to participate in more than a couple of art festivals a year was just too much. This drove me to look for an alternative solution. When this studio space opened on the McKinney Square, it felt like a sign. I’m still working on that work/Mom/life/artist balance though.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I consider myself a traditional oil painter, specializing in representational art. I love florals, still lifes, and anything that brings me joy. While most of the subjects I paint have been represented in art for centuries, I try to give them a fresh spin. Sometimes the subject is just a large, singular object, some have bolder than necessary colors with unexpected backgrounds, or maybe it’s a different perspective or even something a bit whimsical. Though my work may span from fashion to food, flowers will always be my first love and probably what I’m most known for. I’m proud of my commitment to my vision and to the fires I continue to light under myself to keep learning and improving.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Things changed when I made a commitment to the process of creating instead of focusing solely on the outcome of each piece. I started treating the process of creating art as practice that needed constant work, attention, and commitment. That brought fulfillment. My self-worth doesn’t hinge on a painting selling. My confidence isn’t shaken if an attempt falls short. I just keep moving forward. For all of this, I am grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.flower-paintings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanwhigham_art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanwhighamartist
Image Credits
Rebecca Arritola
