Wesley H. Carpenter

Wes was born in Burney, California on April 11, 1940. He spent most of early childhood in the mountains with his dad and brother hunting and fishing. Life was simple and fun back then. Wes' Dad, who was Wintun Indian heritage, was a trapper and sometimes hunting guide. They all lived in a little house where Mom cooked every meal on a wood stove; there was an outdoor toilet; no phone and no tv.

Wes left Fall River High School after his freshman year (1955). In 1955, his art teacher, Jack Fruitt, applied to the California College of Arts and Crafts for the summer session on his behalf. The application was granted and so he left for art school in Berkeley. California.

That summer at art school changed his life forever. He decided that art was his passion and pursued that avenue. Knowing he could not make a living at art in Burney, he decided to find his fortune elsewhere and moved to Sacramento to live with his Grandmother.

While at Grant Union as a sophomore and junior, he set 7 national track records and won the state meet two years in a row.

In 1957, he met a young lady and got married. His first son was born in November of 1957 - Wes was 17. He quit school and went to work to support his family, while attending night classes to obtain his GED. Within the next 3 years he had a daughter and another son. By 1965, Wes was divorced with all three kids living with him full time.

Wes was a commercial artist and owned an art gallery in Fair Oaks, CA.

In 1968, Wes moved his kids to Marysville, CA and opened up a screen-printing company. During this time he was fortunate enough to be able to fly crop dusters, be a fishing guide, fine-art-artist, teacher of the arts, ride Harleys, and be a dad.

In the mid 70's, Wes was in a very serious motorcycle accident that left his leg shattered, and he spent 3 year enduring surgery and bone graphs. He took up country western dancing as a physical therapy (and to meet women).

In 1986, Wes competed in a country western dance competition in Reno, Nevada and met a lady who lived in Sacramento, who also had three children. Wes married her and became a father for the fourth, fifth, and sixth time.

After getting married, Wes moved back to Sacramento, taking his companies with him. Wes and his new wife ran the sign and t-shirt printing companies together, eventually opening a motorcycle helmet manufacturing company. Wes and his eldest son, Waylin, developed and patented a process for manufacturing decorative motorcycle and bicycle helmets.

The 90s were rough on Wes. In 1994, he sold his interest in the motorcycle helmet manufacturing company. In 1995, he divorced. After the divorce, Wes pursued fine arts again and showed his art all over California.

Wes went back to school around 1996 and became a master hypnotist and continued his education all the way to clinical hypnotherapist. He bought a houseboat and lived on the Sacramento River for several years while practicing hypnotherapy.

In 2000, Wes moved to Colorado Springs (for a girl!) and ran a hypnosis center where he dealt with behavior and psycho somatic issues where he helped people with addictions, fears, weight, etc.

In 2002, while in Colorado, Wes started having chest pains, so returned to Sacramento for open heart surgery. He underwent a 4-way bypass and came through with flying colors. His kids and grand-kids were happy to have him back in California!

Wes and Waylin formed another sign and screen printing company called West Coast Decal, which allows Wes the flexibility to create art while paying the bills.

Interests: Painting, water colors, oils, fishing, hunting, dancing, spoiling my grandchildren rotten, flying radio control airplanes, and attending Flirters Anonymous meetings.