Susie Butterfield

Growing up in the ‘50s, my favorite gifts were Paint by Number sets.  With the pictures came little numbered pots of paint that you used to paint the picture, according to the numbers on the picture.

There was always paint left, and those partially filled or unused pots were used by my dad, to begin a long lifetime of talented drawing and painting. 

Born in 1916, Dad started out as a drafting student in high school, even selling model airplane plans to magazines at age 18. Years later, after serving in WWII, getting married, having children, and making a living as a cabinet maker and carpenter, Dad renewed his interest in art. 

One day, he took those leftover pots of paint and created his first oil painting... "A Woodworker's Nightmare.”  Did I mention he had a very good sense of humor?   Eventually, he was able to buy better painting supplies and spent many hours creating his unique and precise pieces of art. He painted mostly with oils, tho’ for about the last ten years of his life, he turned to pen and ink as his medium of choice. His favorite subjects were airplanes and trains, exact in so many details. 

Today, my favorite painting of his is still "A Woodworkers Nightmare."