Packwood Artist Lives Out Dream on Canvas

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When Carol Adkisson broke both of her wrists six years ago, she knew she would no longer be able to do her job driving buses full of medical passengers in the Seattle area. As a parting gift, though, her boss gave her some money to buy art supplies — urging her to chase a dream she’d had for years but had never been able to pursue.

“I never expected it to go anywhere,” Adkisson said. “I didn’t even know if I was even going to be able to hold a paintbrush. … I didn’t think I was going to have my dream.”

With metal plates in her hands, Adkisson slowly began to recover, and over time started putting her visions on canvas.

“They weren’t very good paintings at first, but they started improving,” she said.

Six years later, Adkisson has sold hundreds of her paintings, with buyers from all over the country sending in requests for the outdoor landscapes she specializes in.

Last spring, Adkisson and her husband Michael moved to Packwood, and her work is starting to earn notice in East Lewis County. Currently, many of her paintings are on display at the Barbara Clevenger Johnson Gallery in Morton.

Adkisson grew up near Yelm, raised by her grandparents, and though she faced many challenges early in life, from a young age she found comfort in art. She recalled drawing a horse on the side of a school paper, then getting slapped with a ruler for sketching during class. 

Through various challenges and changes in life, she always held onto that interest, though she never knew it would lead to anything.

“I thought, ‘I need to do more art,’” she said. “I didn’t get a chance. I started trying to do art, but there was so much turmoil in my life I didn’t.”

At one point, she tried to pick up a brush, but found the paints she’d purchased long ago were “hard as rocks.” The dream remained on hold.

Adkisson’s other passion is the outdoors. Raised on a dairy farm, she grew up doing chores with the animals and exploring the land. For three seasons, she and Michael worked at Yellowstone National Park, where they loved being amid the iconic landscape. There, she met King Kuka, a Blackfoot Indian artist known for his painting and sculpting that depicted Native American spirituality. While pulling inspiration from him, she found herself drawing wildflowers or buffalo on the margins of her letters home.



The time in Yellowstone was followed by more than a decade in the Seattle area, where Adkisson took a job driving buses after an aneurysm and stroke left Michael unable to work for some time. After years of driving a tractor on the farm, she had no trouble with the buses, earning an award for never having an accident in 300,000 miles of driving.

That long, meandering journey led Adkisson unexpectedly back to her dream, and after six years of focusing on painting, she knows she’s found her calling. 

“It’s amazing to me,” she said. “I thank the Lord for it. I do not feel like I got her on my own.”

After living most of 2018 in Packwood, Adkisson said she’s learned to love life in East County as well, being once again close to the outdoors. 

“We’re back in the woods, and we’ve got elk coming to our house,” she said. “We love it here. This is our place. I walk everyday in the woods and look around. I’m inspired by the outdoors. I hike and ski and snowshoe. You absorb it. … I think I’m inspired by being outside to paint. I like sencery, I love mountains, rain, sun, snow. It all brings something to us.”

Much of Adkisson’s work reflects that feeling -- sweeping vistas of outdoors scenes, mountains and wildlife. Many of her patrons have requested scenes depicting themes such as horses, elk, sheep and barns. Much of her work has sold simply by word of mouth.

“I still consider it a hobby,” she said. “I’m not out selling it, I’m letting it sell itself.”

Still, she’s found surprising success, showing her work at libraries, fairs and galleries in communities throughout Western Washington. Adkisson has given away many paintings as well, for charity events, auctions or admirers who can’t afford to purchase one. She’s also painted several works for people who want to memorialize a loved one, watching tears come to their eyes as they see her work in honor of a lost friend or family member. 

Adkisson remains busy, describing new projects requested by patrons and new techniques she’s itching to try. She travels frequently, always looking for new inspiration. Despite the long path, she’s grateful to finally be living her dream.

“I’ve always loved art,” she said. “I have no college, no art training. I just love to do it.”