Heritage Artist

Traditions International Educational System

Susan Abdella MDA HA

A long time ago, my Dad gave me one of those big, old milk cans.  Somehow I came across a book or magazine which featured a typical Penn Dutch design including the pattern and I'm sure instructions.  So I spray painted the milk can black, bought some oil paint and brushes and proceeded to paint the design. Much too eager to finish this project, I glanced at the instructions, focused on the picture, and proceeded to paint or base in the design, strokes and all - oranges and yellows, all one value!  Can you imagine?  Then I stuck some giant orange plastic mums in it and placed the milk can so everyone was sure to see it.  I was extremely proud of that endeavor and even began thinking of myself as an artist.

Then after my first child was born, a neighbor friend asked if I would like to learn some "Tole painting".  Another neighbor lady right around the corner was going to teach some classes in her home.  Oh boy was I excited!  After all I had the paints, the brushes, and the experience, right? And a few hours away from home would be good. So we met the next week, I remember it was a Tuesday.  There were 6 "students" total, all mothers and housewives simply pursuing a little leisure activity. 

We paid $2.00 per morning, gathered once a week, and sat around the kitchen table in JoSonja Jansen's home.  Any assumptions that I was an artist quickly vanished.   At that time of course we painted in oils; purchased brushes and paints at a local paint store, collected old, weathered lumber (the look was "in" then) and thought we were in heaven when we discovered discarded cupboard doors.  We practiced on wax paper, took our own notes, and as far as photographs - well, there just weren't any.  In fact in the very beginning we seldom knew what we were going to paint that morning!  The very first 5 day seminar I attended was taught by JoSonja and was held in the family room of a neighbor's home. I'm thinking there were maybe 5 or 6 students.  It was about a year or so later when JoSonja began teaching at the local YWCA and the "kitchen group" was moved. Attending the "Y" class were a recently retired couple, Carl and Phyllis Gustafson who were there just for some recreation.  Realizing there was no source for paint supplies; the Gustafsson's left retirement and founded Cabin Craft. 

I suppose the rest is history, JoSonja began teaching weekly classes and holding seminars at Cabin Craft, publishing, etc.  It wasn't too long afterwards that I too began teaching weekly classes at Cabin Craft. As far as Certification goes, I was very happy and content with receiving my CDA in 1986.  Several years passed, and more or less as a test of my color knowledge, I submitted a tray in the Master Category.  Well it passed!  Great!  Amazingly, MDA was something I had never set my sight on.  Then I heard that David Jansen (the Jansen family was well established in Eureka by this time) was going after his MDA.  Well, I wasn't going to let him get ahead of me, I mean after all!  But of course he did.  Anyhow, that little spark of rivalry got me going, and though it took 15 submissions, it was an achievement indeed to be proud of.  I don't believe David even knows about this little story.

But since then, the whole world of art truly has opened its door for me.  My concern now is that I can't possibly live long enough to accomplish all that I want to. P.S.  David was my paperboy in Redlands, and as one might expect, he was very good:  the paper always landed on the front porch.