Susan Humphrey on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Susan Humphrey shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Susan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time often and it always happens when I have a paint brush or my camera in my hands. I have only recently realized that I am driven by creativity. I have been all of my life. When I was working, my retail merchandising job was very creative and inspiring. I found wonderful ways to make my department look wonderful and build loyalty at the same time. As a teenager, I created sewing projects that gave me fashions like no one else wore.
Now, I spend hours in the outdoors snapping photos by the hundreds. It is so amazing when with one snap I know that’s the one I will look at first when I return home. Photography and art have given me a different eye. Having been born on the Western Slope was a gift, but with age and a different interest, I see things that have surrounded me forever, that I never appreciated before.
When I am processing fine art photos or painting western art, I not only lose track of time, but where I am and what I am doing. It as if I am riding my horse or sighting a Desert Bighorn sheep, then reality slips in and I am in my real world filled with the beauty of nature all around me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Susan Humphrey, a native of the rural Montrose area. The experiences of my youth have made me the person I am today. I was born on a ranch that bordered the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and in fact is part of the national park today. Our family raised Hereford cattle and they were beautiful. My greatest delight was to ride along side my Granddad, that had homesteaded much of the ranch, moving the cattle to summer pasture. Pure pleasure.
Presently, it is my goal to preserve those wonderful times in my photography and art. I want my daughter and my grandchildren to not only appreciate my art, but to appreciate the rich history of our family.
Fine Art Western Paintings is my business. I am represented in 6 art galleries/retail businesses on the Western Slope, as well as 1 on the Eastern Plains. I participate in art and photography shows, both locally and on line. I do this more for reach than to win prizes, but a ribbon is fun occasionally.
I specialize in landscapes of our area, but wildlife, including wild horses, and wildlife also hold a fascination for my work. I also capture western lifestyle and time I have the opportunity.
The beauty of Colorado is my spirit! For someone to enjoy my artwork, is like looking into my heart and sharing something that is so personal, I keep it guarded at times. But hopefully as you are reading this, you will be motivated to take that peek and learn about my life through my work.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Life on a ranch is not only rewarding, but it’s intensely hard work. Both of my parents had a great work ethic. Sometimes when you work so hard, and receive little in return it is evident how devoted you are to the way of life. There are many deterrents in agriculture that make it hard to understand how farmers and ranchers can stay the course. That dedication taught me the importance of staying true to any job and give it your all.
During my years of working retail grocery, I applied the same work ethic as I had learned as a child through my parents. Then my husband and I shared the work load of being self employee outfitters. We supported each other in the manual labor and the customer service that we provided. There was some division of the work load, he shoed the horses and I cooked and ran the computer. No complaints from me. I did help pack the mules and enjoyed it very much.
Now, as grandparents, we are applying that same ethic to our “Grands”. Just this last week end they did the majority of the work in building a corral that with be used for there 4H beef project that will start soon. My grandson, who is about to turn 15, drove steel fence posts like a pro. His sister demonstrated her strength by moving corral panels into place. It was very rewarding to spend several days working together and accomplishing the project.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Wounds, I suppose there have been many, but the defining one that stands above the rest is the death of our 24 year old daughter. She died in 2000 from sudden dealth, caused by Sleep Apnea. I’m sharing this partly to warn other of how deadly this condition can be.
As you can imagine, we were shocked and devastated. Our surviving daughter was changed for life by this event.
My husband was crushed.
I put on my manager hat, even though my heart was broken. We had work to do and I knew that if I managed this situation, I could manage anything. She had just purchased a home of her own and it had to be sold. We sold it quickly and I completed all of the other tasks that needed to be done. The community was so good to us and that was a helpful thing.
Of course, the grief never leaves, but it changes. I learned a lot about myself and found strength that I didn’t know I had.
At the end of that stage I found that it was satisfying to have cared for the final plans of her life in a way that she would appreciated.
It also proved to me that I was, perhaps, stronger than I realized. I also realized that to go on with life, I needed to stay busy and keep my mind positive. That is when I started snapping pictures. The digital camera had just come into fashion. It was an answer to my prayers in many ways.
I continued to learn and pursue this hobby and it soon become a part of a larger plan and a new, creative business loomed in my future.
So, this overwhelming family tragedy was healed by my passion for photography and art. It was an important part of the healing process.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
This is a very interesting and important question to me. I am transparent in my priorities, and this interview has probably revealed this through previous answers.
Here is the list in the order of importance:

-My immediate family – with a special interest in my “Grands”
-Honesty and integrity and a belief in God that is very personal
-Agriculture, educating the public so that they understand the importance to our world and the local economy
-My photography and art to keep my mind in the right place and occupy my retirement time in a healthy way

Enough said.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Realistically, I am at the end of my life. I have had grandparents live to be 20 years older than my current age, but who really knows.
But, here is what I hope people know and say when I do leave this earth.

-Susan loved people in all professions and walks of life. She looked for the special talents that everyone exhibits.
-Susan loved her family deeply and honored her ancestors by talking about them and sharing memories of their life with others, especially her grandchildren so they would know and understand her family values.
-Susan wants others realize that she should have been a full time Cowgirl. Susan’s husband has always called her a Cowchick, LOL
-Susan had common sense and made it work for her and her family.
-She was an agriculturist in her heart
-Susan love photographing the things that mattered to her most, the Black Canyon, the San Juan Mountains, Ranch Lifestyle, Bighorn Sheep and anything good about Colorado.
-She was a hunter who support wildlife management.

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Image Credits
Susan Humphrey

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