We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carol Sue Witt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carol Sue, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

There have been many valuable lessons learned along my 50 year journey with watercolor painting. Starting with college: studying the Masters, learning the elements of design and color theory, the properties of pigments, and utilizing tools and techniques.. All are essential as you create each painting on a one dimensional piece of paper that shows depth and distance.
However, the best advice I received was from work shop artists like Joseph Fettingis and I share this with my students: learn all the rules .…and then break them. You have to dance like nobody’s watching in order to create a winning piece of art. It can’t be well done but on the boring side. Once I began using this “attitude” of being a rule breaker, I found recognition and started winning awards.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My grandfather was an immigrant, a stone mason from Sicily who loved art and opera. His gift to his grandchildren was to cultivate our love for it as well. I was also an only child who carried my paper and pencils with me everywhere. We lived the military life and traveled throughout Europe.

I love entering my paintings in contests and sharing my techniques with other painters. My greatest achievements have mostly been in Texas where I served in the McKinney Arts Grant Commission for 4 years and receiving a coveted Signature from Texas Watercolor Society. I also was honored to be elected by my peers as President of Austin’s Waterloo Watercolor Group. After several years of teaching one day work shops I authored a workbook titled “ Paint With Me…. Watercolor my Way” and am working on a second book titled “Late Bloomer”, all about florals.

I do write a monthly blog and have an Etsy store for note cards and prints , Watergirl Art. I do paint daily in my home studio.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Military families are regularly on the move. My Dad was an Army officer with a 28 year career that took us to Germany for 6 years and various other stateside assignments. When I married, I had no idea my husband’s career with General Mills would move us even more frequently!
I think these upheavals for our family made me and our children quite resilient. We never just lived somewhere , instead we became active members of each school, neighborhood and community. I always continued to educate myself and share my creativity wherever we lived. That takes some resilience.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Having made several fresh starts in several cities, I think jumping in with local art groups and shows as well as volunteering in art related events can open many doors. Attending gallery openings doing demonstrations and speaking at Women’s groups are also wonderful opportunities to share your motivation and your artwork. You are, after all, selling your self as the paintings are expressions of that self.
Word of mouth is my best strategy but a good gallery or shop that promotes your originals , prints and merchandise such as magnets, stickers and coffee mugs is invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carolsue-witt.pixels.com
• Instagram: www.threads.net@carolsuewitt
• Facebook: Carol Sue Witt Original Watercolors
• Other: https://carolsuewitt.blogspot.com

Image Credits

Thomas Printworks