People
Becoming an Artist
Linda’s paintings are beautiful. Whether it’s a street scene, a landscape, or something from her imagination, each painting shows the skill of an artist. What is interesting is that Linda’s artistic talents are a recent development – and it’s possible that they are the result of her brain injury.
“I never once wanted to paint before my brain injury and then all of a sudden it was like a really strong urge came over me and I had to paint,” she says.
The creative urge came on during the year after a car accident left her with a concussion that resulted in extreme vertigo. Tragically, she didn’t receive a proper diagnosis until years after the accident.
“My doctors kept telling me that I had anxiety and wanted to give me anti-depressants,” Linda remembers. “But I didn’t want to take pills. I’m glad I said no.”
It wasn’t until Linda and her husband moved from Greenwood, a small rural community in northern BC, to Chilliwack that Linda saw a neurologist who did a thorough examination and linked her vertigo to the car accident. Having a diagnosis also meant that Linda was able to get connected to resources like the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association (FVBIA) and the Communitas Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Drop-In group. Both of these resources enabled her to get the support she was looking for and also gave her a new opportunity for painting through the ABI art program.
“I had taken some classes in the small towns I had lived in, like the Kettle Valley Art Club in Greenwood and also at the Midway Art Club,” Linda says. “Some of the classes were done through DVDs and I learned a lot but there’s nothing like having a teacher in person, like John Le Flock at the Chilliwack Drop-In.”
Linda is drawn to various styles of painting and really enjoys the learning process. She especially appreciates the way John has helped push her limits and learn even more. The classes have made a difference, not only in her skill as a painter but for her whole self.
“For me, painting is a creative outlet but I have realized that we never stop learning,” Linda says. “We always can continue to grow, regardless of our challenges, whatever those are.”
Esther Tremblay is the ABI Drop-In Coordinator. She says that the art program provides a safe and welcoming environment where people can explore their gifts, express themselves, and grow. Esther has noticed a significant change in Linda since she began attending ABI Drop-In.
“She was having challenges just getting out of the house but now she not only comes to Drop-In, she also has a part time job,” Esther says. “Her self-confidence is growing and she is more self-assured in everything she ventures into.”
For anyone who is living with a brain injury, Linda says it’s important to be able to talk to someone you can trust. She has a close friend that she can talk to about anything, which has been very helpful. Linda also says that having the ABI Drop-In group to go to has been a blessing. It’s a place where everyone understands each other because they all have a brain injury in common.
“There’s no judgement and it’s such a welcoming place,” she says. “It keeps me focused and grounded.”
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