How Art Heals-WEB

95 41. Ellie Reinhold WWW.ELLIEREINHOLD.COM NORTH CAROLINA, USA “Generally, I begin each narrative work simply by sitting quietly and lis- tening. Then I just start painting. The path to the final image might be direct or circuitous. Certain imagery compels me and crops up repeatedly: seedpod-like boats; trees, bare or with sparse leaves or fruit; disintegrating structures. They form and re-form in my paintings over time. I feel the narrative work adds up to a series of experienced moments, a deeply per- sonal story of my life, including emerging from a mastectomy and chemo- therapy in 2007 and 2008.” My creative work went through distinct changes after the cancer. I felt my voice became very clear in my narrative work, such as in Catch and Release . In addition, my work branched out. I was determined to allow play and fun into the studio, and not to edit out the parts of my creative urge I, or others, deemed less serious.