Healing Art

 

 I was contacted by a company, Healthcare Art Consulting, asking if I was interested in submitting artwork for a new Cancer Treatment Center, being built by Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia...   Well, I almost didn't do it, because just applying would be a lot of work, and I had no way of knowing if my application would be accepted. At the last minute, I decided to apply, and I really had to hustle to get everything turned in on time. As part of the application, they asked for samples, so I painted the 12 x 12" painting above. This is a WV landscape that I had been wanting to paint for several years.

 

Well, I sent everything in, and waited, hoping for a commission...   When the news arrived, they had approved me for two commissions! Two oil paintings of West Virginia landscapes, each 40 x 40!"  I can't show you the other one, because it doesn't exist yet!

 

As you probably know, I live in California now, but I grew up in WV, and have lived there for most of my life. In fact, I used to kayak on the river in this painting. This is very exciting and challenging! And I feel honored to have this opportunity to offer some measure of beauty and hope to people undergoing treatment for cancer.

 

That kind of art is "healing?' I always thought my art was peaceful and harmonious... Is that healing? These scenes will be familiar to people in WV, and, I hope, arouse pleasant memories. What do you think?