For many artists their mothers were their first unofficial art teachers, whether they provided actual instructions or encouraged their creativity by example. We learn from art history that Pierre-Auguste Renoir's mother was a dressmaker and Gustav Klimt's mother had an unrealized ambition to be a musical performer. It is widely known that Vincent van Gogh's mother was an … [Read more...]
Artists Tell Us About The Healing Power of Creating Art
As you know this website was founded on the mission and belief that art serves as a catalyst for healing individuals, society and the environment. You will find many articles by artists and others about how they have used creativity to overcome tragedy, heal from emotional and physical wounds, and medical conditions. Other articles focus on how art and art programs have served … [Read more...]
Artists Confront Life’s Challenges With The Help of The Healing Power of Art
In this article you’ll meet three extraordinary artists -- Tommy B. McDonell, Andrea Pascual and Cyndy Baran -- who have faced enormously difficult challenges. These artists were selected to have their art presented in “The Spirit of Resilience” online exhibition, which we presented on this website from September 4 – November 11, 2020. When I read their statements and visited … [Read more...]
Drawn to Help – Drawing Funny Pictures to Help Kids Heal
Drawn To Help is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created by artist Steve Barr to supplement existing art programs at hospitals, camps and treatment facilities around the country. This outstanding organization helps arrange “celebrity” appearances by successful cartoonists and talented artists who want to improve children's lives. When Steve learned about our call for artists … [Read more...]
Artists Who Experience Their Own Healing Process Through Art
Artists Selected From Entries Received For "The Healing Power of ART 2020" When we announced our call for artists for our Healing Power of ART 2020 exhibition, we asked artists to let us know if they create art as a modality for healing. We are honored to introduce you to several artists who not only create outstanding works of art, they are artists who experience their own … [Read more...]
How Artists Help Victims of Disasters
If you're feeling powerless when disasters strike around the world or in your own backyard and want to help, we share your frustration. This article offers ways in which you can make a difference. As part of our mission, The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS communicates how artists help victims of disasters. Whether the efforts help individuals, society and/or the planet, … [Read more...]
Artist Julio César Osorio Creates Documentaries With A Humanitarian Focus
Julio César Osorio is an Anglo/Colombian artist who lives in the U.K. In the late 1990s he visited Colombia, his birthplace. There, he initiated “Work, Play, and No Rest” which began as part of a university assignment. It developed into a five-year project that produced a book of 150 photographs reflecting the lives of disadvantaged children in Third World countries. Twenty per … [Read more...]
Lisa Brown Presents Art-As-Therapy Workshops
After suffering from Lyme Disease Lisa Brown said she found solace in returning to her love for creating art. She then began offering “art-as-therapy” workshops for individuals suffering with illness and adversity, such as those with brain injuries and cancer survivors and their families. She presents her workshops to bereavement groups, therapists, art teachers, children, and … [Read more...]
Mandala of 1,000 Lights Raises Money For Homeless People
We are grateful and excited to share this inspirational article by Patricia Fitzgerald as part of our ongoing "Artists' Stories" series about how art can serve as a catalyst for positive change and healing. Patricia Fitzgerald is an artist based in Dublin, Ireland. Her main focus is on the art of Mandala and the power of mandala as a tool for the expansion of consciousness. Her … [Read more...]
Betsy Cole Finds Herself Again in Art
Betsy Cole is an artist who expresses her feelings in free-flowing colorful abstract paintings. She reminds us of the importance of letting go and states, "I meditate and there is no planning or thinking, no judgment and no expectations." After experiencing a series of traumas and challenges, she finally found the joy in art that she once knew as a child. In this article she … [Read more...]
Artist and Curator Mehreen Hashmi Gives A Voice to Survivors of Abuse
Mehreen Hashmi is an independent curator, art educator and internationally exhibited visual artist from Karachi, Pakistan. Since 2010, she has been engaged with her community, initiating public art projects and exhibiting her own art work. She is the founder of a non-profit project ‘Paywasta Reh Shajar Se’ in order to promote art education for children with such challenges as … [Read more...]
The Art Memorial As Storyteller
The Memorial Tells the Story of Steven Sotloff’s Wish for Peace By Tracy Ellyn Throughout the history of art, memorials have always been both a reflection of their times and the power of the image to shape our remembrance. Ancient Egyptian memorials evoked not the pharaohs’ facial likenesses, but rather their impossibly larger-than-life power and strength via the imposing … [Read more...]
How My Non-Political Art Has Become Political
Holly Van Hart is an award-winning artist whose nature-inspired, abstracted paintings are exhibited in galleries internationally. Her one-person exhibitions include those at the Triton Museum of Art and Stanford University, among other venues. When I learned about Holly's recent decision to take a more activist role as an artist to address global warming, and that she donates … [Read more...]
Moving Toward The Light With Fluid Abstract Paintings
By Patricia Coulter Patricia Coulter is an award-winning artist who lives in Alberta, Canada. Art Business News recently selected her as one of "The Top Artists To Watch". In addition to making her own art, she enjoys helping others discover their creativity by presenting workshops around the world. In this article she shares a heartfelt story about her devastating loss and … [Read more...]
Artist Donna Howard Fights Back Against Disease
Donna Howard began painting in late 2010 after she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She decided to fight back against the disease with a paintbrush. She has shown her endearing works of art in 73 juried group shows around the country as well as 28 solo exhibits. Artsy Shark named her one of the 6 most visited Artist Pages in 2015. She was Artful Vagabond’s featured Artist … [Read more...]
Artist Shellise Berry Uses Prayer and Intuition
Shellise Berry creates vibrant paintings that emanate a sense of peace, hope and serenity. To create her art she uses the power of prayer, intuition and African Adinkra Symbols. In her story she describes how she found a way to fill a yearning through art and how she developed her expressive process. The artist earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Oklahoma State University … [Read more...]
It’s Never Too Late to Become An Artist
Mary Mirabal, www.marymirabalart.com, is an artist from Tampa, Florida, who transformed her life when she began painting after spending 30 years in Corporate America. She paints exuberant contemporary abstract expressionist works of art that have been shown in many exhibitions including those at the Tampa Museum of Art. The artist also has a "Mary Mirabal Art VIP Circle" on … [Read more...]
Lizzie Windelinckx’s Illustrated Guide to In Vitro Fertilization
Lizzie Windelinckx is an accomplished illustrator from the U.K. and creator of Gidypup Designs. She is also a member of AOI (the Association of Illustrators). She attended Manchester Metropolitan University and received a BA Hons Textiles. In this article Lizzie shares her story about dealing with her arduous struggles while enduring In Vitro Fertilization and how starting to … [Read more...]