Biographer David McCullough once wrote, “Real success is finding your lifework in the work you love.” For children, such achievement appears easily attainable. Those fascinated by space will become astronauts. Those who enjoy music will become rock stars. Those who like to lead the class will become president. It is, undoubtedly, as simple as that.
But with age comes a new understanding of how easily the doors of opportunity close when political hurdles, college tuition, mortgage payments and family responsibilities come knocking. Sure, many have careers they enjoy and some might even face Monday mornings with a genuine smile, but individuals who are able to combine their jobs with their passions are both rare and extremely lucky.
Susan Vaughan is among this fortunate group of individuals, having successfully built a small business around her love of painting. Working out of her Stone Oak home, Vaughan offers both portraits and art lessons through her company, Charis. The company name was taken from the Greek word for grace.
“It’s all do to God’s grace that this wonderful gift of painting is in my genes,” she says. “This is my calling.”
Vaughan was aware of her artistic talents at a young age, even painting a portrait of her sister when she was nine.
“I made her sit for me because she was younger,” she says. “The pecking order has an advantage.”
And while she went on to study art under some of the country’s leading portrait artists at Stephens College in Missouri, Vaughan’s careers still followed more traditional paths, including those of a teacher, psychologist and consultant.
Vaughn did not originally pursue a career as an artist because “frankly, I didn’t think it was a great way to make money.”
Only when she left the workforce to stay home and raise her children did Vaughan return to her many creative talents as a painter, piano player and gourmet cook. Soon after, a woman asked Vaughan to paint a portrait of her grandchild, and “it became apparent I could make money doing this.”
Of course, Vaughan does not paint for the money or even for the kudos she receives.
“I do it to please myself in knowing I’m doing the best I can do,” she says. “I’ve realized my gift, and it makes me feel good.” Vaughn has been painting professionally since 1987 and can tackle any subject from landscapes to animals. People, however, are her favorite subjects.
“I see a lot in a person’s face,” she says. “I know their personalities pretty darned well. What I love most is transferring this person that is living and breathing before me to the image that is living and breathing before me on my canvas. Their luscious color, life and liveliness are exciting.”
Vaughan has a remarkable ability to capture such an exact likeness of her subjects that from a distance, it’s hard to decipher which image is the photograph and which is the painting. A portrait, for this artist, is a series of puzzles relating to light, color, shapes and measurements. Her job is to solve the problems and achieve a perfect likeness. Because of the complexity, Vaughan works on no more than two portraits at a time and gives herself six months to complete each piece.
“I like to live and breathe it,” she says of her artwork. “I also turn it to the wall and don’t work on it on purpose for a week or two then come back and change it, and that’s how I get my accuracies.”
Although quick to admit much of her talent stems from genetic luck, Vaughan insists anyone can learn the tools and shortcuts needed to produce good work. For example, Vaughn holds a weekly art class in her home studio on Monday afternoons. This class has a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere, and participants are free to use any medium they choose and work on any subject matter they are brave enough to tackle. Recently, three women who attended this class each “came with an apology, but each has tons of talent.”
With her canvas covered in bright yellow daisies, Georgie Walters says she was intimidated when she first joined the class.
“I wondered, 'What do I have to bring to this?’ But I was made to feel such a part of the group,” she said.
Although each canvas is covered with something different, the women listen to Vaughan’s individual comments and apply her suggestions to their own pieces.
“We have a good laugh, and we work real hard,” says Vaughan.
“We each have something great and wonderful to offer.” Vaughn stresses that the trick is not only finding that individual gift, but also being brave enough to go after it.
“I have tried my hand at other careers that have brought me a lot more money, but this is what fulfills me,” she says. “I’m at such peace and at such happiness and I believe I’m right where I belong.”
She is definitely one of the lucky ones.
