Homemaker says dream job is what she’s doing
Willa Cahill came into this life as the seventh of 13 children. She lived in Swormsville, N.Y., until she was 12. Her father, an aerospace engineer, took a job with Rocketdyne in California, and for the next several years Willa lived, worked and went to school in Camarillo, Long Beach and Santa Barbara.
Originally studying to become a licensed vocational nurse, Willa took a job as a high-paid secretary until that company went bankrupt. Intent on re-entering the LVN program, she found instead that she was pregnant with her first child. Her commitment to being a full-time mother led her to rediscover a dormant talent that has since blossomed. Cahill is a fantastic artist. Her specialty is illustrating children’s books, acrylic paintings, both large and small scale and wood burnings.
I asked her, “Where do you think this hidden talent came from?”
“My grandfather had an art gallery in Philadelphia until it burned down,” she said. “In my parent’s home, we had a wall that we were encouraged to draw upon. I grew up drawing, but thought nothing of it until I started drawing murals on walls that other people showed interest in. I now create murals and large paintings, such as Nativity scenes. Looking forward, I would love to create an environment for a physician’s office or a public office.”
What is your hometown? My hometown is Swormsville, but I was transplanted to Southern California with my father, mother and 12 other siblings when I was 12 years old.
What town do you live in now? I live with my husband and three children in Hayden.
What job do you do? I am a full-time homemaker and volunteer. I am also a part-time artist.
How long have you been doing this job? I have been a homemaker for 10 years, and it is the joy of my life. I have also been working as an artist for more than 20 years. All 12 of my siblings have artistic talent, and their children have even more talent than our generation.
What do you like the least about this job? The part I like the least is when my 2-year-old comes behind me and paints over my work. I painted a mural on a wall and I guess he decided he wanted to draw on the wall also.
What do you like the most about this job? I enjoy the challenge of putting my artistic vision into reality. I love it when people care and are happy with the results. I have never had a dissatisfied customer (knock on wood!).
Tell us a funny/unusual or sad story that happened on the job. I was nearly finished painting a Nativity scene. I slaved all day trying to get the faces just right. When I finally finished I went to rinse my brushes and noticed that I was missing one. I found my 2-year-old son working hard to “improve” my painting. I cried until I laughed. My little Rembrandt wanted to be like his mom.
What is your dream job? In a way, I am doing my dream job. I always wanted to be a mother. Being at home with my children and being able to explore the artistic medium this way is awesome. I would, however, love to be a wedding planner/events coordinator. Provided I didn’t have to deal with cranky brides or their mothers. Yeah right! So I think I’m stuck with painting for a long time.