"I have always drawn and
doodled. When I was a kid everything in our house had my scribbles and writing on it.
(Still does too!)
I started sewing and embroidering
before I started to school. I made all my dolls clothes. My Mother taught me how to make
patterns for my dolls myself w/ newspapers. I could not wait to get her scraps from her
sewing. I got a sewing machine when I was in the 6th grade.
I was never in a school that
offered art class so I missed the opportunity when I was young to have help or
encouragement with drawing.
I got married in 1965 and was
always doing something with my hands. Sewing or crocheting, knitting, cross-stitch…you
name it, I tried it. I started quilting in 1979, and I love it so much that I usually have
a quilt in the frames at all times. That is just part of our furniture and is my favorite
of all of the sewing projects.
I have always wanted to paint. I
have been known to buy the paint by number sets….even as an adult. (my husband
thought I was nuts!) I started doing oils and really enjoyed them other than the
"clean up mess" that goes w/ oil painting. I developed an allergy to them so I
started doing pencil and pastels.
In 1991 I started doing watercolors
and I love them. The clean up is wonderful and they are just so much fun. You can take
them just anywhere you want to.
I started out pretty much on my own
because no one around here did watercolors. They all did oils or pastels. I just bought
some watercolor books and started studying on my own. I did lots of practicing and
trashing. I still do. I have had a few workshops.
The closest place to go for a
workshop is about 80 miles so they are few and far between!
I also love collage and mosaics and
I have just recently started doing hand bound books and journals.
I am married to a cotton farmer and
I have always stayed at home-and worked. We have five wonderful kids in our family. We
have a son and a daughter. Our son is married with 2 sons and a daughter and is a deputy
in our county.
Our daughter is still single and
she is a Nursing Home Administrator.
So far no one else in our family
paints but that might change with the grandkids! They love to paint when they are here. I
keep the little watercolor sets for them and they paint every time they come.
I sign my paintings Suzy Pal,
because when Ken and I were dating and while he was in the navy he would always sign his
letters either Ken Pal or just Pal, so when I started painting I wanted something
different. Besides I thought Susie Powell was almost too long to write on a painting!
I feel that God has really
blessed me by allowing me to paint and do things with my hands! "
(Suzy Pal)
