"Listen!"

I am a self taught artist of 4 years who, after being placed on total and permenant disability, found solace in painting.  Among other disabilities, I suffer from severe fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, severe osteoarthritis, diabetes, and other illnesses. Expressing what few words could truly capture, I tried to set forth in "Listen!" a commandment for the world to listen, that is, to see and recognize, to respond and care, about those in pain.  The painting shows a person of unknown gender, ethnicity, and age yelling out for the pain to stop.  He/she is painted with blood pouring down the hands, tears glistening on the face, and the right side of the face incorporated into the background, representing the mind and the internal struggle of the sufferer, with the left side of the face representing what those in pain present to the world. When no other method works, no pain medication, heating pads, cold packs, rest, rub-in gels, etc. provide relief, I head to my art table and paint.  I have participated in three gallery shows and have sold my work therefrom. The escape my art provides is a blessing; sometimes, it is the only place I can bear living in a physical form.