Hello, my name is Peggy Lynn Muenzel. I live in Neenah Wi with my husband Wayne. We have four children, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. I create because I love to.
My earliest happy memories include crayons, dancing and the lake. My mothering years fondly recall sewing clothes for myself and the girls, curtains and quilts, reupholstering furniture, wallpapering rooms, costumes for the children and happy birthday parties. I even sewed Wayne a leisure suit, that was a long time ago. Christmas was an extravaganza of sparkle and love, homemade gifts and delicious Norwegian food. My first oil painting class was in 1983 at the local tech school when our youngest of four children was old enough to attend a whole day preschool. I was so excited to have time to attend! It was love at first swish of paint.
Developing my painting skills was an exercise in patience and perseverance. Raising four children provided limited time, space, or finances for years. As the children grew I developed a small business of mural paintings. That was so much fun. My goal was to send myself back to school for art, but life happens. Wayne’s position was eliminated after 20 years. I had an opportunity to return to a position that provided the gap income we needed, But THEN, our fifteen year old son Jason was killed in an automobile accident at Bible camp. (The story of our journey through that time is chronicaled in our book Walking Through hope for the Grieving heart. )
I could not continue in my office position. The stess, the grief and the technical nature of it drove me to retreat home. It was good to be home. I needed to journal. I needed to sit with Jesus. I needed to paint, I needed to heal. Much of my studio time was bathed in good music, worship songs and classical instrumentals. They soothed my soul.
Because of the book and speaking I’ve done for women’s events and other groups, I created some pieces of clothing to illustrate the theme, A time to mourn….A time to dance. I am blessed to encourage others to lean into the loving arms of the God of all Comfort.
Life has a way of rolling on and change is inevitable. I’ve enjoyed plein aire painting and creating still lifes. I still do. I’m exploring acrylics and collage because its fun to play. I love being with my family. I love Jesus. I love the beautiful world around me and the people in it.
It’s exciting for me to see how these all come together in the artwork I create.
