I was twelve when I lost my dad to a sudden heart attack. A string of other losses followed, and in my desire to hold-it-all-together, grief threatened to engulf me. Always an artist, I began painting out not just beauty and light, but also pain and death - finding much healing in the process. It took me years, and a lot of support, to find personal healing. And along the way, I began to reach out to others who’ve experienced loss. I am now a Therapeutic Art Life Coach, in addition to being an artist and art teacher. My husband and I founded ProjectGrief.Org, an online school that teaches art as a tool for personal grief recovery. I teach anyone who’s experienced a loss how to express the pain inside, getting it out onto paper or canvas. You don’t need to be an “artist” in order to be a “grief artist”.