Comments on: Artist Donna Howard Fights Back Against Disease https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/artist-donna-howard-fights-back-against-disease/ We are a community of artists, arts advocates and writers dedicated to raising awareness about how art enhances the well-being of individuals, society and the environment. Tue, 24 Jul 2018 23:01:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3 By: Roger Sisson https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/artist-donna-howard-fights-back-against-disease/#comment-21718 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 23:01:26 +0000 http://www.healing-power-of-art.org/?p=8918#comment-21718 Donna, I was searching on my phone for a picture of a piece of artwork of mine, which I couldn’t find, and then I googled my own name and “artist” and on the first page of citations I found what I was looking for. And in addition I found the link to your story which I commented on in June.

I was delighted to open the link, not thinking about having seen your work before, and was delighted to suddenly be seeing your work. That was a nice boost to my day.

]]> By: donna https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/artist-donna-howard-fights-back-against-disease/#comment-21687 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 21:11:01 +0000 http://www.healing-power-of-art.org/?p=8918#comment-21687 In reply to Roger Sisson.

You sound like you have a lot on your plate! I feel for you! Art does heal – I’m living proof. I believe with my whole heart that if you are honest in your work, it will return the favor. I have a tattoo that says “don’t panic”. Nothing wrong with little reminders to help keep us on track! I hope you go on to create glorious things! Be well. donna

]]> By: Roger Sisson https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/artist-donna-howard-fights-back-against-disease/#comment-21686 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:26:19 +0000 http://www.healing-power-of-art.org/?p=8918#comment-21686 Oh, Donna! Your work is wonderful and your story is inspiring and gives me hope. I love your images and especially the backgrounds, or negative space. Pattern and color are a great anchor or foundation for your paintings. I, myself, love pattern (random as well as repeated pattern) but I am very uncomfortable with the use of color. I so want that to change. I look forward to seeing and learning more about your work.

At 52 I’m just finding I’ve been misdiagnosed. Bipolar 2 is apparently what explains the individual diagnoses of depression, ADD, anxiety, OCD, etc. My art has been an important part of life but has also been terribly, negatively impacted by my mental illness in terms of organization and productivity. I’m unemployed and facing divorce. My husband and I have been together for 15 years, married going on 5 and though we have talked some about the problems which have led to where we are now I was never under the impression that they were deal breaker level issues. He is a painter, a mail man (which is how we met) and struggles with depression and anxiety, as well, and is an alcoholic, sober the last 7 years. In addition to public assistance on housing, health insurance, etc., art is what I’m banking on to come out of this still standing.

I have one tattoo. It says “ART heals.” I don’t always believe this to be true but now is when it will be most aggressively tested.

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