And love to create along side my 4 year old! Ohh hey there, internet! It’s been a long time! A lot has gone on since I used or even posted on this page. I haven’t been able to paint or create due to some major health issues, having a baby and having her turn into a wild, fearless, hyena of a toddler, and then developing life altering side effects after being bitten by a venomous snake...
But I’m b
ack!! And I’m so ready to start painting again!! And guess what? I have a side kick now �
Raising a mini me artist is amazing and I’m loving painting and creating and teaching her! So I’ll be posting more and I’ll probably change the name, but it’ll still be me, and my baby girl!
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There is a whole lot about my history down below if you’d like to read it! It tells about the struggles I’ve had since I was very young with migraines, and chronic back pain, and how painting really helped me! Fast forward nearly five years...
And I am now suffering from CRPS, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, a debilitating(and permanent,) disease of the nervous system caused by an injury that causes extreme, constant pain in my left hand and arm. I was bitten by a copperhead snake in our yard in June 2018, and although it’s been hell...it didn’t bite my (then) 18 month old daughter, so I’d do all of this again for that little hyena! I’ve been through years of not being able to paint and now I’m JUST starting to be able to again!
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As most of my close friends and family know, I have suffered from chronic pain/chronic daily migraines (sometimes lasting days, weeks, months...with my longest episode being over 120 days,) for several years. About two years ago, I was so bad that I was unable to work, drive, or really even be functional as a human being. Everything hurt from sitting in the car just to ride to my doctors appointments, to eating, showering, etc. The pain in my head, eyes, neck, and other parts of my body was so intense that I would often pass out, vomit, loose vision in one eye, be unable to speak, among other things. I also suffer from herniated discs in my back and neck which cause daily pain, two auto immune diseases, a heart rhythm problem and anxiety. All "silent," diseases along with the migraines. I can't tell you how many times I have been told "but you don't look sick!" And in all honestly, as much as I try to ignore people like that, it makes my heart ache. There really is no understanding unless you have a chronic illness, or someone that you know and love does and you can see their day to day struggles. I had really hit rock bottom when I was admitted to The University of Virginia hospital for one week to try a new drug therapy which I received IV since I could not keep anything down. It burned my veins going in and gave me horrible nightmares, sweats/chills, and muscle pains. The treatment was stopped and a member of the psych team was sent to see me since I was in such bad shape and nothing seemed to be working, to say I was depressed would be an understatement. She suggested finding something that made me happy, something to distract me. I honestly blew her off. I could hardly open my eyes most days, let alone find a new hobby!! Three weeks later, I had passed out from another intensely painful migraine and was in the emergency room. They gave me a shot of steroids that not only didn't work, but gave me horrible side effects. I couldn't sit still, I paced the house because my legs just felt like they would explode if I didn't. I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't do anything. For fear that I was loosing control of my life once again, I sat at the kitchen table and cried...and then saw a paintbrush. I picked it up, and I never stopped painting after that. Since then I have used paint and different mediums mixed in with paint such as collage, printing, etc. to "Paint my pain," and show how I felt, what I saw when I closed my eyes during a migraine incident, the side effects of migraines, and much more. I've done over 20 paintings of all sizes now and have decided that after two years, I'd like to start showing them to the world. They are for sale through Facebook, as well as a few craft shows that I plan on doing this fall/winter. Every cent that I make in doing this will go back into my treatment and paying for my medications, past hospital bills, doctors office co pays, etc...and eventually, when I have paid my bills and brought my accounts current, I will be donating 100% toward migraine research and helping others in my situation. I realize that this type of art is not for everyone. It's very abstract and wildly colorful. I only ask that if you don't care for it, please keep your comments to yourself. I paint directly from what I see and feel, and I don't appreciate negative comments. Along those lines, please do not ask me to re create a painting for you, or do a custom piece, as that is impossible when you are using your pain and symptoms and side effects to create a piece of art. Thank you for taking the time to read and learn about my story, I can only hope that moving forward, "Painting with pain," will continue my own healing process, but also help others. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about my journey, or any of the art work which is listed, as most of it is for sale in order to help pay my bills.
