Arts for Healing Artists Statements

RITA

I hope to activate the creative side of my brain and venture into a world I never fully understood and rarely visited.

JODY

The praying hand bookends represent what I believe in as a Christian. “To always be in an attitude of prayer can help everyone who is sick, or the loss of a loved one or even help people who may have gotten laid off from a job.

ETHELYN

I have had a difficult but interesting life. I’m extremely spiritual and feel I have been greatly blessed and protected by God. After two near death experiences and serious health problems, I decided to retire from Wal-Mart and enjoy life. I have always loved nature and all God has given to us.

A friend told me about the Arts for Healing class and convinced me to come. My husband decided to come and see what I was doing and he stayed. I have enjoyed meeting people, learning about color and styles etc and I am looking forward to having the opportunity to create my visions.

JIM MANY FEATHERS

Hoka Hey! My name is Many Feathers. I am Metis or mixed blood. My paper name is James W. Wherry.

I am a pipe carrier and I have a medicine partner. Her name is Clear Bear. We both do Native American Ceremonies. I sometimes get my ideas during Dream Time when I am sleeping. Sometimes Spirit shows or gives me a vision or picture of what I am to make and what ceremony is needed.

I only create or work when I am in a positive good way. I do most of my work at home when the time is right and always with ceremony. I construct, make and create all my own Regala used in ceremony. I also do bead work, feathers, dream nets, medicine bags and other work for individuals. I do my arts for the good of all people. Mitakuy Osin Wiaka Ota (Many Feathers)

DAVID

Art has always been a part of my life. In my early years, I drew pictures; finger painted and connected the dots. As I grew older I was aware that others could do more with paint, pencils and clay. I also discovered baseball but once again others played better than me. That’s when I discovered words.

As newspaper man and newscaster, I found I could make people see a combination of what I saw and also use their own imagination. The neat thing about doing a live sportscast is that you are painting a different picture for everyone who hears your voice. My greatest thrill and challenge as an artist is my words can create thousands of pictures by all who read or hear them.

ANNA MARIE

Art is an event of wonder. In my life of many years, I’ve never drawn or painted as a youngster or grown up. Arts for Healing has introduced me to this great experience. Many words can describe how I feel from joining this class. It’s educating, exciting, fascinating and mostly relaxing that makes it so enjoyable. Not to mention, all the many friends you make and keep over the years. It’s mending mentally and physically to my soul as well as my body.

VICKIE

Art is about enjoyment and excitement with God’s help. The disappointments and anger from past experiences are best expressed through art.

JIM

I was hard because of what life had handed me. Then I was handed my wife, Vicki, so art and writing helped me have a healthy outlet.

SARAH

I used to draw when I was younger. I always enjoyed art classes. I have learned so much since come to Arts for Healing. I like to draw hummingbirds and other birds too. My mother and sister have a green thumb and have all kinds of plants and flowers. I also like to paint flowers and plants.

PAT

I retired in 1996 as a Pennsylvania Electric Company’s Safety and Equipment Inspector. I experienced the changes and challenges of women in the workplace for more than twenty five years. Taking early retirement has allowed my real passion for writing, poetry and photography. At the present time I am taking classed through Arts for Healing. I feel everyone should see nature expressed in every way possible.

LORETTA

Painting is relaxing and helps decrease my pain. My only other experience with drawing and painting was a junior high art class. I began Arts for Healing after a disabling injury. It has opened a wonderful creative outlet for me. I like to reproduce the beauty of nature. Inspiration comes from my garden and farm. I try to create more realistic pieces and enjoy experimenting with color and learning more techniques. Painting brings me enjoyment and pride in accomplishment.

MARY JANE

To me art is the creative action of the mind and senses molded into form. Whatever canvas we choose painting, writing, music, sculpture or sewing expresses the inner spirit of who we are. My artistic flare is not perfection however the imperfection is its beauty.

When illness struck, I had a deep sense of loss. I lost my physical ability and the loss of how I defined myself. Creativeness helps me live in the present and open to new possibilities. It transcends my inner spirit into something concrete so I can continue to share with others.

NANCY

For me, painting is more than the simple action of applying paint to a surface. Painting provides me with relief from a great sadness, sadness about pain, about anxiety and about abandonment. Thinking about, preparing for, then actually painting keeps me focused, keeps me in the present moment.

My painting reveals my story, my inner emotions to storms as well as t sunny days, as I continue to grow into the person I have been created to be. I do this by loving as well as I am capable of loving, encouraging and supporting the persons in my life at the moment.

Come share with me the richness of my life’s journey through the colors, hues and blending of my palette as I adjust to the broken pieces of my life discovering freedom, peace and joy that only comes from feeling the pain and ultimately letting go.

PATTIE

This is my first experience with drawing. My two year old cat recently died unexpectedly and I decided to do a picture as a tribute to his life. He was very unique and I think of myself an eccentric. This drawing is a product of some unexpressed grief and my attempt to avoid “art” in the traditional sense.

CAROL

I am an individual who has lived through many situations. Some were happy and lift me with many good memories. Some were sad and not so easy to live through.

Because of all these ups and downs in the path way of life I became a person feeling gratitude and thankfulness. I create my art work with images of flowers because they represent life, color and happy memories.

I do most of my work in my craft room at times I can be alone and listen to comforting music. I like to do tole painting especially using flowers because flowers represent beauty and individual creations given to us by God.

JANET

My drawing and painting reflect my love of my family and the natural world. My favorite subjects are landscapes and figures done in a realistic style with a particular focus on how different light sources fall on objects. Having lived with Multiple Sclerosis for mort than 20 years, my perspective of beauty has changed.

I am more used to working in oil paints but have recently begun using watercolor and acrylic paints. Though initially wary of the transition, I have enjoying the challenge of incorporating new textures, colors and techniques in my paintings.

Taking part in the Arts for Healing class has motivated me to return to painting after a number of years. Arts for Healing provides me an opportunity to produce and discuss artwork under the direction of an encouraging and knowledgeable instructor.

JOELLE

I have had a love of art since I was a young child. I am always looking at the various possibilities of anything that might catch my eye and allow me to reproduce it on paper using watercolors, colored pencil and acrylics.

I have a love of color and the various numbers of ways it can be used. When I begin to immerse myself into a work of art my mind is constantly thinking of what I am working on and I become lost in time. Being able to reproduce the beauty of what we see and what we put on paper so others can share the beauty that I see. To me, that is what art is about and why I love it so much.

BECKY

When I work with my hands, I am reminded that I am capable of what I love tot do best. I begin a piece by what I see, feel and what inspires me at that moment. The beauty of the day and brightness of the sky inspire me the most. I know a piece is finished when I see that no more can be accomplished. When my work is going well, I am filled with a sense of pride, joy, happiness and self fulfillment. When people see my work, I’d like them to feel what I feel, see what I see, and perhaps allow them insight to what type of artist I am.

ETHELYN

I like to paint. I could not paint before. I like to concentrate on the picture and think about the painting. When my painting is going well I am filled with a sense of happiness and contentment. When people see my work I want them to see what I am seeing.

ROSE MARIE

My name is Rose Marie, I could not do the watercolors before these classes and I learned what to do and put it on paper the way I wanted.

SHARON

Arts for Healing helps me appreciate the beauty all around me. Stop, sit back, be refreshed! Watch natural talent and enthusiasm be born and develop into true artistic skill.

As rocks and minerals found in rough form in nature can be polished and transformed into beautiful gems and jewels…..i see new acquaintances become friends that are friends that are refined into true, caring and lasting relationships.

Through our love and appreciation of nature and mankind we can share a true love and communion with the Creator of all…….