A Community that Supports and Shares The Healing Journey Karen Johnston is an extraordinary intuitive, abstract painter and instructor living in Nashville, Tennessee. The powerful healing nature of her artwork is invaluable. She is also the founder of The H.O.P.E. Ministry, a community that supports and shares the healing journey. Many people of all ages have benefited … [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 Contribute Their Talent and Compassion to Bring Positive Change to the World
Artists Who Inspire Us! You may be familiar to our extensive series on this website titled "World Changers", which includes in-depth inspirational interviews and articles about extraordinary individuals and organizations that are actively contributing to making a positive difference through their art. If you ever need to restore your faith in humanity visit that series that … [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...]
Artists Transformed Cardboard Into Hope and Healing in the “Together While Apart Project”
By Deane V. Bowers Deane V. Bowers, deanevbowersart.com, is a self-described self-taught artist who lives in Seabrook Island, South Carolina. She is driven by a desire, "to be a responsible Environmental Steward in every aspect of my life. As an artist, whenever possible I always use reclaimed, recycled, repurposed and Eco Friendly materials." Her purpose is to create art … [Read more...]
The Rewards of Teaching Art to Children With Disabilities
Maryan Myres Shumway is a writer, musician and an expat living in the Middle East. She is also an advocate for families and people with disabilities. With her global travels, she tries "to offer a perspective of people who have faint voices in the world." She is the mother of six children. Her youngest, Elias, has autism, artistic talent, and a huge spirit of generosity. He and … [Read more...]
Artist Joanne Turney Celebrates Aging with Joy
Living Life and Art With Passion, Gratitude and Courage Update: This article has been updated as a loving tribute to Joanne Turney who died on April 6, 2025. I wrote articles about my dear friend Joanne Turney several years ago and it was published in Professional Artist magazine and also Luxe Beat magazine. Here is a version of it on The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS … [Read more...]
John Danks Takes His Art Cart to the Children’s Hospital
It is a pleasure to present this article by John Danks, an artist who devotes time to helping others heal through art. Known as the "Crayon Man" at Philadelphia's St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, he takes his Art Cart to the children's hospital and creates artwork with them. To keep his cart fully stocked with supplies, the remarkable artist donates a percentage of all … [Read more...]
Botanical Photographs that Celebrate Nature’s Renewal
Dick and Rosanne are multi-talented artists whose healing photographs of nature capture the awe-inspiring beauty and restorative power of nature. Most of their botanical subjects are derived from their own cultivated garden. In this article they share their love for nature and the positive impact that images of nature have on others. Dick and Rosanne were selected for The … [Read more...]
Heidi Hooper’s Determination to Create Art Led to World-Wide Acclaim
This article by Heidi Hooper is about her passion and fortitude to create art in spite of obstacles and how it led to world-wide acclaim. After having achieved many accolades as a metalsmith artist, she was faced with cancer which left permanent damage to her arm. She could no longer work in that medium. Her persistence led to her becoming a world-acclaimed, award-winning … [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...]
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...]
Barbara Rachko’s Life and Art After 9/11
Barbara Rachko, barbararachko.art, is an internationally exhibited American contemporary artist best known for her pastel-on-sandpaper paintings that are inspired by Mexican and Guatemalan cultural objects. She is also the author of “From Pilot to Painter,” (available on Amazon.com), and maintains a popular art blog “Barbara Rachko’s Colored Dust” which has more than 28,000 … [Read more...]
The Zen Tov Project: An Oasis of Healing Through the Arts
Tracy Ellyn is an internationally acclaimed artist who lives in Miami, Florida. She works in layers of 19th, 20th and 21st century techniques, often all within one piece. Her website is tracyellyn.com. Her art work has been exhibited at The Louvre, SCOPE/Art Basel, The Jewish Museum of Florida, Wynwood, and other venues around the world. She is also the founder and director of … [Read more...]
An Experience With Digital Art in Pain and Illness Management
By Dr. Shanali Perera MBBS, MRCP Editor's note: A few days ago Dr. Shanali Perera shanaliperera.wixsite.com/digitalart from the U.K. sent me an email and expressed her interest in sharing her story with The Healing Power of ART community. It's a pleasure to present her article "My Experience With Digital Art in Pain and Illness Management". Dr. Perera's message is personal and … [Read more...]
The Rewards of Being An Art Therapist
In this article by artist Christine Jolly we gain tremendous insight about the rewards of being an art therapist and about the many benefits art therapy brings to people of all ages. Christine obtained her diploma as an art therapist from the medical university of Lille and the Tours School of Art Therapy (AFRATRAPEM) and has cared for individuals and groups of … [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...]
Nancy Calef’s Healing “Peoplescapes”
Nancy Calef creates highly dimensional and powerful mixed media paintings titled "Peoplescapes", that incorporate sculpture and found objects and her “plane slashing” technique. They confront a range of social, political and spiritual issues and have been exhibited widely throughout California. She is also the author of Peoplescapes -- My Story From Purging To Painting (Babu … [Read more...]