American History: 5 ft x 4.5 ft, oils and collage on gallery wrapped canvas. 2020. 

​Video here. This is umong the last few paintings I was able to do before having further surgeries on my arms and hands.

​

I worked in oil painting for over 20 years. In 2018, I was in a car accident initiated by an impaired driver and involving four other vehicles. This caused a nerve root impingement in my thoracic C6 and C7 which resulted in neuropathy of my arms and hands. In addition, I had a traumatic brain injury.

​

For the past seven years, I have been in recovery. The experience left me with permanent nerve damage and weakness in my arms and hands . This means I can no longer lift a 5 or 6 foot canvas or hold a brush  extended for long periods of time. I thought I would not be able to paint again. However, physicians from Stanford University, Indiana University, and the Indiana Spine Group have given me a second chance. While in recovery, I developed new works that allow me to work in a more gentle way. My new works under the name (T6DH) The 6 Directions of Healing have allowed me to embrace nature and great spirit.  Foraging allows me to be in the forests for long periods of time which brings a great calm. Throughout all of this, I have had an environmental awakening and have come to understand that all of life is fragile. Leaning into Hildegard of Bingen has helped me to understand the power of a resilient spirit.  I look to nature as my guide as I move forward in my life and work. My painting archive is available upon request.