Carollee Williams-Schuegraf: Artistic Vision & Vitality
Professional artists are unique individuals. I’ve never met an artist who didn’t march to the beat of his or her own drum, have you?
Not many of us can spend hours and days at a time passionately focused on color combinations, light, shading, patterns or shaping forms. The effect on viewers can range significantly as an artist’s inspiration can touch us in varying ways—from subtle to off-putting or deeply meaningful.
Art can cause us to consider new ideas, viewpoints or ways of thinking. If you’ve ever been to an art gallery or museum and felt something deeply while taking in an exhibit, you know exactly what I mean. Through the medium of their art, which is their passion, an artist can inspire us to view the world (or even a flower garden) differently.
The benefit a provocative artist provides to the world is immeasurable. And we now know that the health advantages for artists are equally incredible. Recent university studies show that full-time artists live longer—with less inflammation and remarkably sharper brains—than any other segment of the American population.
But I wasn’t surprised by those findings. Why? Because I know Carollee Williams-Schuegraf, an 81-year-old, award-winning artist and quilter who lives in Palos Verdes.
When I met Carollee 11 years ago, I noticed her balance, style, sharp mind and witty, sarcastic sense of humor. When she asked me to give her a private yoga session, I was amazed that she had no signs of inflammation or arthritis and no neck, shoulder, wrist or low-back issues. (This was odd, as she must use her hands and look down as she creates.)
Looking around her house, swaths of color and cloth were everywhere. She tends to work on multiple projects at a time—painting, taking pottery classes, sketching, creating unique cards, gardening and baking works of art for nearly all holidays.
She doesn’t watch TV but listens to music. On the occasions we have gone to the symphony, she usually drives. If I do, she often corrects me on the right way, or the fastest way, to get to Downtown Los Angeles and has the best parking lots and restaurants all mapped out.
If you’re wondering, she is not a typical quilter. In fact, she often travels and goes to art or architecture exhibits to garner more inspiration. Every month she drives herself to Palo Alto, where she was raised, to see friends and attend exhibits at Stanford or in San Francisco. Over the past five years, she has taken multiple trips with friends, including travels to Germany, Indonesia, Arizona, Texas and Idaho.
Her quilts are inspired by varying artistic genres, styles, architecture and her travels. They have provocative patterns made with exotic materials and contrasting colors. For the past 10 years she has won awards at various shows (see sidebar), including the South Bay Quilters Guild, where she has been a member since 2000 and was selected as a Featured Quilter for 2025.
Carollee is not going to slow down anytime soon, as the view from her studio with her many projects shows. She says she’s “just getting started.”
“I love to create, and I’m excited to help inspire others to create art!” says Carollee, who has studied with more than 20 teachers. “It’s been my passion since a little girl when I began sewing quilts with my mother.”
Her advice to others who would like to try an artistic endeavor. “Take a class and explore every aspect you enjoy. Don’t worry about what others are doing; focus on what sparks your interest.”
