In 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was stunned and had to make decisions. I thought about my husband and children first. If I let my mind venture into a worst-case scenario, I thought about my death. One oncologist assured me that I had cancer with a “little c,” not a “big C.” I also mourned not having painted enough. That mourning stopped as soon as I picked up my brushes and started to paint. Painting puts wind in my sails. Making art is a healthy way of channeling energy. I was blocking my own energy for far too long.
The “Chain Lakes Trail” oil painting depicts one of my favorite places to hike in the Washington State Cascades Mountain Range. It shows trees in a wooded area looking down toward a lake; it is a stunning view and a nurturing place. The trail exposes views of Mt. Baker glaciers and Mt. Shuksan. Further in, the trail goes along rocky terrain and woods to gorgeous lakes, whose beauty is best experienced, not described. This painting takes me to a place of safety and familiarity.
