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“I love w rds, animals, nature, col r,” she said.

“I love words, animals, nature, color,” she said. Finding an inspiring quote, she designs a scene to go with it. Bill makes the
frames. Cathy says he’s her biggest supporter, “He always says ‘Yes you can.’ We do this 100 percent together.”
“When I started doing shows,” she said, “it was wonderful. People were as odd as I was.” Highlights included a store owner
buying her entire inventory. At another early show she met folk artist Warren Kimble, whom she names as an inspiration. “He’s
helped me in this business so much, and has been kind of like my mentor.” Her work has traveled far afield: New Zealand, Australia,
and a store in London. Nowadays, though she’d like to go to “one more big show,” she gets enough commissioned orders at the Grand
Lake Stream Folk Art Festival to keep her busy all year. She may exchange ideas and sketches with customers as she designs the scene.
Framed works average 2 to 3 and a half feet on a side. She enjoys working in the quiet of the wee hours, often on several pieces at once.

Commission inquiries may be made by emailing cathyshamel@gmail.com. Cathy’s work can be seen, purchased, and ordered dur-
ing the Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival the last weekend of July.
Inspiration is everywhere f r Cathy

and she loves sharing it through her

creativity.

Photos this page courtesy of Cathy & Bill Shamel.
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