Anna Arts Council
Creative Consultant
"I made this for you." Those five little words spoken by little angels before handing over priceless, instant family heirlooms actually prove every bit of what I believe: that when we create handmade gifts (art) for people who inspire us, art becomes spiritually healing.In 1999, I was a cake decorator for a local bakery in New York. Armed with an air compressor and an airbrush pen filled with food coloring, I created custom-made cakes for special occasions. When customers picked up their cakes and opened the lid to inspect my work, their faces lit with joy, their eyes welled with tears, and I was a kid again, handing over art that makes a difference. So, when the cake decorating gig ended, my best friends pooled their money together and purchased me a French easel, dozens of canvases, oil and acrylic paints, and brushes, and encouraged me to use the canvas instead of tables, walls, floors, and my clothing.Art has long been a currency for me; it allows me to buy another joyful moment where I orchestrate happiness, encouragement, and compassion. And since I control the price, it gave me the ability to be as generous as I wanted to be.In 2018, after spending at least three years without painting anything while enjoying my fourth baby's first steps, my best friend called me with the terrible news that her father was diagnosed with cancer. I'd given her dozens of paintings before, but this painting was different. I held my baby the entire time, tears in my eyes, contemplating how fragile life really is. When it was done, I called her over (she lived half a mile away) and I watched her hold the painting of an elephant (her father's favorite thing), and she wept with such appreciation. She knew of my hiatus from painting and my frustration with it, and knew this painting was such a desperate longing to show her I care.Afterwards, I placed the painting and a prayer request on Facebook. This is my "God Descending Moment," where a woman contacted me to ask if I would sell her the painting. It's every artist's dream to hear those words, "How much?" but this painting was spoken for. She would go on to tell me about her son who was born with non-verbal autism and was competing in a spelling bee that weekend—and that he, in fact, was holding the phone, saw the painting, and gushed with emotion over its beauty. She had to have it. How much?God does not bestow artistic talent so that it is held hostage for ransom; it is to be given freely to whoever needs it to heal. I offered to create Cody a painting of his own at no charge, which is what I did.This is that same night, that same day, that same event—that started with a call from my best friend—where by 9 PM I created a Facebook page, a website, and that first post: "How many of my friends want to celebrate their Warrior of Cancer, Warrior of Autism, or Warrior of Life with a totally free painting of their favorite things?"There were 12 in the first hour, 56 the first month, and 157 by December. Every painting shared a different Warrior Story, and every story taught us all about being brave, graceful, beautiful, and faithful. My God, it changed my life every single day.
I made this for you- Anna Arts Council, The WarPaint Project, AnnaArtPro.org, and this app- I made it all so artists have the experience of a lifetime, like I did. and that I will be here, every step of the way, to help.
