Meet Penny Winn | Watercolorist, Lavender Farmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Penny Winn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Penny, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in the 1960s and 70s in Northwest Denver. It was so different then; all the neighborhood children ran as a pack. We would go outside after we ate some breakfast and then come home by dark. If we were hungry, we would make some quick food so we could go back out to play. All the mothers in the neighborhood knew who we were and took care of us. There weren’t the worries that parents have now. I still know some of the children that I grew up with, our parents are still good friends. The neighborhood has changed many times over, but I don’t think it will ever be like it was back then. I think growing up with an intense sense of independence helped to give me the courage to go into the Army, to become a teacher, and then a principal, then finally in my retirement years to start my lavender farm, and become a watercolor artist. I have never questioned if I could do something. I just sit down and make a plan, and then do it. I believe that it will always work out to my highest good, and it does. I am blessed that way. I won’t say that I don’t have a perfect life, or that things don’t go wrong, because they certainly do. However, it is from our mistakes, our hardships, our failures that we grow and get better. I have never been afraid to fail, I think growing up in the way that I did showed me this.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I try to paint the images that capture me. It seems in their capture of me a way to express my feelings. Through time I am amazed at how my eye has changed, I see the light differently, I am drawn to color in a new way, and different scenes call to me. Painting has become my passion. If I don’t paint at least 4 hours a day, I feel at a loss. I can tell a story in paint; I can get lost in the brush strokes and it soothes my very soul. Watercolors allow me to express reality in a soft way, yet I don’t paint as a true watercolorist, I paint more like an oil painter with watercolor. I never took lessons, so I didn’t learn the proper ways to use it, but I found what works for me. I paint most of my animals or people with realism and a wild, imagined background. I make my paintings to suit me. When I first started, I was more about painting what suited others, my commissions were about what everyone else wanted. I found this to be very stressful. Now I paint for me, I only paint what makes me happy. I take commissions, but they are usually with the understanding that they will be done in my style. Unless it is a memorial painting, these I do a little differently. They still have my style, but since they are the last painting of the person, and for the family, I ask a great deal of questions about who they were and try to incorporate some of this into the painting. Getting anywhere as an artist takes time, it takes hours and hours of practice. I still throw many of my paintings into the trash, they aren’t good enough to show in the galleries. Many of my paintings will sit in the galleries for months and months, sometimes even a year before they sell. I am terrible about selling myself on social media, I have learned that I can sell my artwork if I am face to face with people, but I just don’t understand social media… I wouldn’t say that you shouldn’t try because I do. I would say that if you are young and need help with it, get advice, find someone who can help you. Currently, I don’t think you can exist without social media, you must have a website, Instagram, and the like. I know the galleries want it and to get into the galleries you must send them all your information. I have gotten into galleries from using my artist resume, portfolio, as well as just walking in with my artworks. I think that both work just as well. Research the gallery that you want to be in. Then see what they say on their website about artist submissions. Have an up to date portfolio and make sure that it is professional and will wow them. Do everything that the submissions website ask for. If you are walking in, bring 5-10 of your best works and look professional. These are the things that have helped me along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver is one of my favorite places to be. Some of my favorite places to go when I am back home are the Denver Botanical Gardens, the aquarium, the Denver Zoo and the Denver Art Museum. If you are looking for some other things there is always Red Rocks, or downtown Golden for a concert, or Red Rocks just to go hike around. Old Morrison is great to kick around for a bit. Or if you like to shop the 16th street mall is always fun, or head up to Boulder to the Pearl Street mall, the outdoor malls are filled with atmosphere and so much charm. The Ballerina, Mile High, or Pepsi Center are great for those who love sports. For me I love to spend time in the mountains, going over Trail Ridge from Grand Lake to Estes Park, or just hiking outside of Grand Lake. Spending a couple of days at Mesa Verde, in Durango, or time in Breckenridge climbing the ski trails or just riding the ski lifts in the summer if they are not into hiking. For food and drink you might try First Fridays off Santa Fe, One Up Arcade bar, Howl at the Moon piano bar, or just going downtown Denver to Larimer square for art and food at the Tamayo. Head over to La Loma Mexican Restaurant or Amici’s Pizzeria and Italian on 43rd and Wadsworth. The Wash Park area is a great place to relax and dine for Sushi. The Blackbird in Denver is wonderful dine in experience, or go to Sloan’s Lake to the food truck hangout. The Edgewater Market or Avant Market are wonderful go and wonder around and eat and enjoy the atmosphere. If you are a pizza fan these two are my favorites Edgewater Pizza, Carl’s Pizzeria. Lastly, the Ginger Pig is a fun quiet place to just enjoy a meal. These are just a few, Denver has so many phenomenal places to choose from. I would say Mexican and Italian are probably my favorites. It’s hard to get it wrong eating here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would be nowhere without the support of my loving husband and family. I really must give a lot of credit to my husband Lyric. I got a head injury in the war, and it left me with no concept of time, for the most part this is no problem. However, I can get lost in my artwork, I can sit there for 12, 14, 16 hours and not get up. I wouldn’t eat, or know that it was time for food, bed, or anything else. Lyric makes sure that I eat, that I get to my doctor’s appointments at the Veteran’s Hospital, he ensures that I remain healthy enough to paint, and farm. I couldn’t do it without him. When we started the farm, the two of us separated the chores, I make all the products with the lavender, and he does all of the housework, the cooking, and taking care of our pets. My mom, my sister, and my son provide amazing moral support for my artwork. I can call my son Ryan and send him an artwork that I am working on and he will give me ideas on how to make it better, or what to change if I am struggling. He has a wonderful artistic eye. Lyric also helps me when I am ready to finish a piece. I always take it to him to see what it needs and if it is ready for public consumption. My sister is there for all my friendship needs she is a strong sturdy rock that I can always count on to be there in my life. She helps me in my art, with my life, and just everything. My mom and I talk on the phone almost every day, it helps me to stay grounded and because the farm is so rural it helps me to remain social and centered.

Website: https://pennywinn.com

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