We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Steve Windham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Steve, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Prior to 2020, I’d only painted walls. While I’ve been accused of being “creative”, it never had to do with painting or art. It was a perfect storm of Covid, replacing my fence and having a couple of fish shaped craft pieces hanging on my wall. I simply thought to myself, “I can do that”. I have left over paint and fence pickets and time on my hands.

I drew a couple of fish patterns and cut out my fish. Staring at them, I started applying paint. House paint, mind you. Turned out, interesting. Tried more. Showed them to friends and family. They liked them. They wanted one. I had to paint more. A little social media post lead me to actually selling a few. Then the requests continued for custom pieces or special requests.

My artist friend reminded me that I was now a “professional artist” because i had sold some pieces. Can’t get my head around that.

I love creating whimsical and colorful fish. I’ve created over 200 unique fish and sold a fair amount. I love doing it and there seems to be no end (yet) to the designs I can create.

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?

I’ve explained how this all started during Covid. From the drawing, cutting and painting a couple of fish to where I am today is a bit of a journey.

As I created more fish, I shared them with my sister, who is very creative and “crafty”. She also loves to give advice and encouragement. She gave and gave. There was no end to the “you should…” Yes, I should create a Facebook page and an Instagram page and get a website and name it something and do shows and sell your fish, etc, etc.

Swimsyfish was born. The name was easy and available. Kinda catchy. FB and Instagram pages, done. Etsy shop, done. Web site done. Now all I had to do was create more fish, promote them on social media and see what happens. It worked.

I started selling swimsyfish. I created a few more types of fish- long, smiley, guppies, whales. Also started applying hooks to make towel racks or key racks. Oh, and mobiles. Three fish with a unique design on each side (yes, six unique designs) and fishing line, sinkers and you have mobiles. Bright colors and spinning in the wind – seem to be popular.

Playing with stains, paints and techniques I’ve created a lot of swimsyfish. The process is so much fun. Designs and ideas just come to me. Sometimes in my sleep and sometimes when I’m staring at a blank fish. I’ll grab the color combinations I think will look good together and then just start painting.

When a fish is complete, it is named and numbered. Yes, each fish has a name. Names like Redbonefish or. Wanderfish or Pinky or things like that. Whatever comes to mind when I look at it. Mobiles were different since there are six designs, so I’ve started just naming a mobile based on one of the designs. I’ve completed and sold many mobiles so I’ve kinda lost track of the total number of swimsyfish I’ve actually created. I just know its over 200.

My goal is to make whimsical, colorful and fun designs that make people happy.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

While Covid and staying home played a part in starting this journey, there were other things going on at the same time. My wife was in year four of her ovarian cancer fight. She had to retire as her overall health deteriorated. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to deal with surgeries and radiation.

During all of this, I kept painting. It was an outlet. It gave me a purpose. I felt joy completing a piece and showing it to Susan and, of course, she always loved whatever I showed her. She was like that.

I became a retired widower in 2022. I also began taking lengthy journies. Camping and traveling for extended periods of time. These journeys were my “coddiwomple” -To travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination. A chance to clear my mind and set a course for my life.

The production of swimsyfish dropped off; however, traveling with “Wanderfish” and posting pictures at each new location, kept swimsyfish relevant. Upon my return, I started painting more; creating more; and selling more. My life will continue to include painting swimsyfish, making music and coddiwompling. It’s a good life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I’m not a great artist. I lack the training and skills. My love of creating and the joy I see when a person connects with one of my creations is what I do this for. It certainly isn’t for the money. I give away more swimsyfish than I sell. Pieces created specifically for someone brings me the greatest joy. It makes me feel good. I know that every day they will look at their swimsyfish and smile.

My strength is in combining colors and designs in unique pieces that make swimsyfish customers happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: swimsyfish.com
• Instagram: swimsyfish
• Facebook: swimsyfish