Meet Susan Whigham

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Whigham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Susan, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Bill Parcells is quoted as saying, “You can’t dream up confidence. Confidence is born of demonstrated ability”. And the only way to demonstrate ability to myself was rolling up my sleeves and getting to work. Putting in the miles on my brushes, being honest about my efforts and works, and continuing to push myself are all part of my practice.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a traditional oil painter and watercolorist. My focus has been on florals, still lifes and landscapes. In January of 2025, I moved into a tiny but mighty, open studio right on the McKinney Square in the Historic District. I love getting to paint in the window and watch folks on the Square. If I’m there painting, its open to the public.

I started painting in 1998 and painted every chance I could. Painting around my 9 to 5 quickly became my very favorite thing to do. Within a few years, I started selling paintings on eBay’s Outsider Art platform. Painting “when I could” around work hours, the demands of raising children, and the general responsibilities of most adults, I dreamt of the day when I could paint “all I wanted” instead of just “when I could”. I decided that 2020 would be the year I would make my push into the local art scene. I had big plans for art fairs, festivals, and shows. 2020 came, and while there we no fairs, festivals or shows, I was able to paint, “all I wanted”. As scary and uncertain as that year was, I’ll always be grateful for that pause. Now I am so grateful to be able to paint every day.

Most of the inspiration for my floral paintings come from the flower and pollinator gardens my husband designed and tends at our home. We jokingly call my floral art, “farm to canvas” since it all starts with those gardens. Our own little nano-flower farm. I also love the variety of landscapes and cloudscapes Texas provides.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three most impactful philosophies I’ve applied to my art journey came from yoga.

1) Compassion. Compassion towards myself and my work. Self-awareness and honest criticism are important but it is also important to avoid being too harsh about the work, or sales, or where I think I should be. Comparison is a trap. I am where I am and if I continue to do my best and challenge myself, I will continue to move forward. Art is a practice.

2) Cultivate truthfulness. Being authentic in my art started when I stopped accepting commissions that weren’t right for me. I started saying no to guaranteed sales, and put my focus on painting only what I wanted. I made peace with the possibility that a studio filled with unsold, finished paintings is preferred over painting what is trendy or marketable, just to make a sale.

3) Strive for the balance of discipline and surrender. I read, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear in 2018, and it changed my life. I made a commitment to my art as a practice. It is as simple as that. If I only have an hour a day to paint then I’m making the most of those 60 minutes. Its equally important to release any attachment to an outcome. I’ve been painting long enough to trust my process. If something isn’t going in the right direction, I move on. I do not cling to the idea of perfection or need external validation. There are more paintings to be painted.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was creating a consistent, secure and loving home. Structure and discipline were absolutely taught but curiosity and play were just as important. Doing my best was expected but perfection was not. I was allowed to grow up feeling like my mistakes weren’t the end of the world, my questions were welcomed, and my individuality was honored.

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