Art Gallery

I have dealt with cancer for 20 years, relapsing two times. This clown sums up the emotions I've had to deal with to get through my cancer.

My main point in creating a clown is that, for me, clowns mostly mean humor. To get through my cancer I think it has been humor that has helped me. When doctors do funny things in the hospitals or when funny incidents happen it gives you a warmer feeling inside, which seems to make you feel healthier than you would by moping around.

My cancer years meant tears to shed, too. The one tear on the clown is to represent the sadness. I've lost many friends over the years because of cancer and gone through many different kinds of cancer treatment.

The IV on the clown's arm show that cancer is not fun and games. It's to show that cancer hurts.

For me, humor heals me so I painted a clown - but it does involve pain and tears, and so my clown's tear and IV are just as important to me in the piece.