I began to paint HEALING ART years ago as a way to cope with chronic illness. At that time in my life, I had lost my ability to love myself because I could no longer do the things that I had once been able to do. I felt myself disappearing into depression, and I needed to find an anchor of support. My art and creative process became that anchor of support; they became my teacher, healer and friend.
When I first began to paint, I didn’t know the meaning of self-love. My only intention was to paint images that would lift my spirit and reassure me that everything was going to be okay. But, to create this kind of art, I first had to look inward and examine the areas of my life that needed lifting. That meant that I had to examine my pain and where it was coming from. Unfortunately, being honest with ourselves is not always easy because if we feel criticized or judged during the process, even from ourselves, it can trigger feelings of defensiveness, which can shut us down. So, it was vital that I first create a safe space of observation before looking inward.
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