From the source: The HAND & the HEART, finding sanctuary in the process
- Jennifer Gillia Cutshall
- Feb 6
- 4 min read
"By using true natural pigments, I strive to recreate the beauty of the sea, sky and antiquity on my Aegean Island. By using ancient minerals and marble dust I feel connected to this place - a place of peace, layers of history and beauty that makes my heart sing."
Helene Steene
Peter Hsu
"The myriad things take shape and rise to activity
But I watch them fall back to their repose.
Like vegetation that luxuriantly grows
But returns to the root (soil) from which it springs"
- Tao Te Ching 16, Lin Yutang transl.
Rick Whetstone
"I find sanctuary through my art making in that it brings me peace. It's also a way to experiment and break rules without causing harm."
Rick Whetstone
Reade Weber
“To be a visual artist is not a profession—it is existence.”
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Earl Grenville Killeen
"Making art is a refuge from the pangs and wounds and unbearable sadness that is always a part of life (along with its sweetness and beauty) -- things you feel within you and see around you that you can't make go away.
But you can retreat with your whole mind and body and heart and spirit into your creative process and be fully absorbed. You can't take away what's hard to bear -- but you can transmute it and embrace it in a sort of mutual soothing."
Earl Grenville Killeen
Sharon Cannon
"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
Thomas Merton (quote shared by Sharon Cannon)
Becky Chapman
"The Magic is in the details. I am entranced by the smaller elements of Nature. Intimate landscapes require a slow, deep looking to discover those details -- where the Magic lies."
Becky Chapman
John Diephouse
“The act of creating is my “safe space”, a state of purity of intention that’s released from the distractions, concerns and irritations caused by the intrusion of the outside world, where the spark of inspiration originating somewhere below the level of conscious thought spontaneously takes form.”
John Diephouse
Jennifer Stuart
"My art practice causes me to be conscious of myself as a temporary collection of cells in a mysterious universe. The beauty of the state of flux of which we are a part, is both calming and overwhelming. It allows me respite from the stress of daily life and gives me a powerful feeling of connection to our world."
Jennifer Stuart
Susan Schenk
"Through my eyes, I witness reality; through my lens, I seek infinite possibilities waiting to be uncovered."
Herman Hesse (Quote shared by Susan Schenk)
Susan Schenk
Pamela Trail
"Art is my refuge, shaped by life’s unexpected turns. Embracing vulnerability and letting go of control, I channel emotions like resilience, hope, and reflection into each piece. Creating is my escape—a judgment-free space where I lose myself in the moment, fully immersed in the process, revealing growth and renewal through every brushstroke."
Pamela Trail
David Day
"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein.
David Day
Richard Allen
“I find sanctuary, or solace, within the intense focus required by my detailed pen and ink work. Such concentration not only dispenses with extraneous 'noise,' it also reminds me that, in keeping with my Christian faith, it's a gift from God to be enjoyed and shared.”
Richard Allen
Karen Kurka Jensen
Even from a young age,
I sought solace and inspiration in the great outdoors.
Nature became my sanctuary, a place where I could lose myself
in the vastness of the natural world and find peace amidst the chaos.
Walking through the wilderness,
I felt a profound connection to the rhythms of life, as if I were a part of something greater than myself, part of the cosmos.
It is like walking through an invisible veil, one moment embodied, the next without form.
I am air, the breeze in the treetops,
the water flowing in the stream, the firmness of rock.
Landscape and nature know us, hold us.
I am in the music of creation... and I am home.
This is why I create, this is who I am.
Karen Kurka Jensen
Elaine Dunham
"Here’s my hand, dancing with paint. I am not a dancer, but with paint, I can dance."
Elaine Dunham
Mark Weller
"Through my eyes, I witness reality; through my lens, I seek infinite possibilities waiting to be uncovered."
Mark Weller
AnnMarie LeBlanc
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. I am fortunate to have a studio surrounded by the nature of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is my inspiration, my muse, my sanctuary."
AnnMarie LeBlanc
Ellen Zimmerman
"...In times of darkness, art mends.”
This quote is from a book of my photographs and Karen Webber’s poetry called “Vessels of Light.” When horrible news assaults us, art is my sanctuary. It both gets me out into the world and shelters me when I need to hunker down at home."
Ellen Zimmerman
Jan Hamrin
“I use art
to support
the more serious
work
living”
Allan Graham 1943 - 2019
Janet Antepara
"When I paint, I can completely lose myself in the process. It's something I've loved since I was a kid. To put it simply, it makes me happy. I find joy in creating visual pieces that are uniquely mine, transforming my thoughts, emotions, and dreams into something tangible and beautiful."
Janet Antepara
Gerlinde Gelina
"Art making is my meditative escape from the daily noise, a space where I connect with my thoughts and emotions.
Through layering collage paper and paint, I communicate with the evolving piece in front of me, uncovering stories, emotions, and beauty.
My hope is that viewers feel inspired to find their own peaceful narratives within the abstract."
Gerlinde Gelina
