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Penny Cannon: Artist and Entrepeneur

The last of a family of seven children, Penny Cannon was born prematurely, weighing only four pounds when she came home from the hospital in 1961. When doctors recognized Penny’s cognitive disability, they recommended she be institutionalized. But her mother refused. “It would be like giving away any of us,” she told her children, noting that in spite of Penny’s challenges, she was still a valued part of their family.

Penny showed an interest in drawing and painting at an early age. “She always loved to draw and was very good at being able to depict things,” says Penny’s sister and guardian Colleen Nelson. As it turns out, artistic talent runs in Colleen’s family; her son and two daughters are gifted painters. So Penny’s family encouraged her interest in art, and as she grew her talent matured. But according to Colleen, it wasn’t until Penny began to embrace her own independence that painting became something more than just a past time to her.

Before he passed away, Penny’s father arranged for her to move into Sunray, a boarding home for adults with developmental disabilities run by The Arc of Spokane. “I don’t know if I would have been able to put Penny in Sunray,” Colleen admits. “It would have felt too much like giving her up.” In time The Arc replaced Sunray with its current community living program, and Penny now lives in a private home with four housemates. “It has been the best thing that has ever happened to her,” Colleen observes. “Her housemates are her family now also.”

Living on her own and encouraged by her housemates and Arc support staff, Penny worked hard to develop her talent. Over the years, she has created hundreds of works on canvas and developed a unique perspective using color, shape and texture. In 2006, Penny began marketing her works through art shows, fairs and conferences; she has since sold about 50 original paintings and earned the respect of local art connoisseurs. Today, prints of Penny’s most popular works are available in 16 local stores and sales are increasing steadily. In time, Penny may find herself not only a professional artist, but financially self-sufficient as well.

In many ways, Penny’s story is as unique as her talent; not everyone will be an acclaimed artist. But just as important as her success as a painter is the fact that Penny was given the opportunity to blossom in a way that best fit her needs and abilities. She is, in short, realizing her full potential.

Penny is the perfect example of what people with developmental disabilities can accomplish with the support of the community and programs like The Arc of Spokane's Residential Support services.

Cards and notebooks featuring Penny's artwork are available at the following stores:

Altamont Pharmacy
Auntie's Bookstore
Boehm's Chocolates at River Park Square
Common Grounds
Destiny Floral
Huckleberry's
Identity Hair Salon
The Northwest MAC gift shop
Rosauers on 14th Street
Rosauers on 29th Street
Sacret Heart Medical Center
Simply Northwest
Four Seasons Flower Shop
The Arc of Spokane (Boone Ave.)
The Arc Community Center