Welcome to the Special Friends Page
We are delighted to present this page of Special Friends of The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS. These highly respected individuals and organizations share our mission and belief that art can serve as a catalyst for healing individuals, society and the environment, that art can raise awareness and lift our spirits.
The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website is an initiative of Manhattan Arts International, which was founded in 2000. We decided to launch this website after curating decades of exhibitions related to the healing power of art, both in NYC venues and on the website.
Would You like to Join Our Special Friends?
Visit this page for details.
Karen Johnston
Featured Special Friend of the Week
Karen Johnston is a contemporary abstract painter residing in Nashville, Tennessee. With a personal style that both ponders and celebrates nature and life, she paints with a desire to uplift the spirit and stimulate growth. Her belief that art heals inspires her passion toward community work and projects that integrate the arts with healthcare and well-being. Her award-winning work is represented in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee galleries and can be found in numerous private and corporate collections throughout the U.S. Karen is also a dedicated instructor who teaches her personal process of combining the principles of art with meaningful life stories. Shown here is her painting Sense of Wonder, acrylic/mixed media, 36″ x 36″. studiokarenjohnston.com
Karen has been inducted into our “World Changers” series. Read an interview with her.
Catherine Toulsaly
I am a self-taught artist. I began painting and making assemblage art two decades ago. Since 2008, direct carving has been my focus. The American Sculptor Malvina Hoffman inspired me to take on this medium with her words about how sculpture must be experienced by the artist through her hands, mind, and heart. My work is influenced by my background as a Buddhist scholar and my growing concern for environmental issues. In support of global recycling efforts, I use discarded stone and other salvaged materials. I am also a writer. I have been researching and writing on the intersection of science and philosophy, exploring the relationship between the Universe and Consciousness. The Universe reveals itself by expressing itself and knows itself through every bit of experience, and so does the work of a direct carver in her confrontation with the stone. Shown above is “Look Up and Listen to the Stars”, marble, 8” x 6” x 6”. comingfullcircle.over-blog.com
Cindy Lutz Kornet
Cindy Lutz Kornet is an innovative artist who lives in Massachusetts. To create her gorgeous tactile works of art she skillfully applies a variety of mediums that include acrylic paints, encaustic wax, inks, collage, printing and calligraphy. She explains, “My objective is to create art that is hopeful, uplifting, inspires courage and even joy. It is my deep desire to help bridge the gap from human condition on earth to a spiritual place in the higher realms.” One of her works of art was selected for “The Healing Power of ART: Resilience” 2022 exhibition. Cindy also teaches the creative process “as a healing vehicle and roadmap for healthy expression.” Shown here is “Rooted in Hope”, acrylic, pen and ink, and collage using her original artwork, 18″ x 24″. artandsoulofcindylutzkornet.com
Teri Leigh Teed
Teri Leigh Teed is a photographer, writer, poet and songwriter living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Her brand name is “Healing Spirit Art”. Shown above is “Glory Lights, Nantahala” a mesmerizing photograph from her new “Eleanor’s Dream” series. Her photographs reveal the life-affirming presence of a power greater than us. She captures light filtering through majestic trees, tranquil landscapes, reflections in water, peaceful roadways, and drifting clouds in the sky. Teri is also an advocate of animal welfare, environmental protection, and sustainable agriculture. She is the author of Mystical South Carolina – A Pilgrimage to Joy. Teri states, “Being amidst Nature’s glory is where my sacred space is, as that is where my heart resides.” terileighteed.com
Dr. Michael Durst
Dr. Michael Durst is known for his style of Impressionism and also for his “Fractal Visions”. He informs us that with his images of fractals, as the building blocks of all things, he often adds elements of sacred geometry. The energy contained within these powerful mathematical expressions can be experienced on a cellular level. Viewers resonate with these images — energetically, intellectually and spiritually. Durst’s magnificent art, based on combining the digital image with many layers of glazing to exude beautiful translucent colors and a 3-D effect, reflect an almost ecliptic enchantment and a surreal, dreamlike quality, providing an immersive transcendental experience, allowing the body, mind and spirit to heal as never before. Shown here is “The Path”, Fractal Impressionism, acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 30″. michaeldurstfineart.com
Michael’s art was selected for “The Healing Power of ART: Resilience” exhibition and he received a Special Recognition Art Award.
Read an Art Review “Dr. Michael Durst is A Colorful Messenger of Elation and Healing”.
Britt Michaelian
Britt Michaelian states, “It begins with meditation and a cleansing of my energy with sage smoke and quantum healing to purify my soul, followed by a prayer for the divine to send love through me into the artwork. I incorporate ground mineral stones with specific healing properties into the paint and set the intention to create more peace and calm in the world through each painting. By integrating energy healing into each piece, my art is now capable of sending a healing transmission thus lifting the energetic frequency of not only the viewer, but the entire planet.” Shown here is “THE TRUTH IS INWARD. LET CREATIVITY FLOW OUTWARD. Third Eye Chakra: intuition, wisdom, self-reflection. Energy Healing, Sage and Palo Santo Smoke, Selenite, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Blue Apatite, Fluorite, Aventurine, Thulite, Love, and acrylic on canvas, 48″ x 48”. brittmichaelian.com
Read an Art Review “Britt Michaelian Creates Transcendent Paintings Infused With Healing Energy” by Renee Phillips.
Wendy S. McCarty
Through painting landscapes, portraits, and still life, the “Art Spirit” reveals to me what it could mean to be a fully natural human. By the means of oil paint, and observation, I am confronted with nature’s patterns, symbols, light, movement and forms. Art reveals to me what I deeply know and what I do not realize I know. Arts mystery is its process through imagination leading to my inquiry and fascination. I hope to reveal in my art a unity and playfulness first discovered with my paintbrush and then to be shared with others. Shown here is “Spring Sunflowers”, oil on canvas, 20″x 24″. wsmccarty.com
Eda Gyenis
Eda Gyenis creates works of art that capture intense emotions. She lives in Harkány, Hungary. She graduated from medical university (POTE) and retired as a doctor in 1992. She has been painting seriously since 2016. Her art has been shown in many exhibitions including the Light, Space Time online gallery. One of her works of art was selected for the Manhattan Arts International “HerStory” 2022 juried competition/exhibition and also “The Healing Power of ART in Honor of Nature” exhibition. She states, “I paint because it gives me happiness. I think the main of task of art is to touch the infinite. Honesty and love are the most important values of art for me.” Shown above is her painting “Girl With Bird”, acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 28″. art-of-eda-gyenis.webnode.hu
Tommy B. McDonell
Tommy B. McDonell is a multi-talented abstract artist who excels in many different mediums with unbridled creative passion. Her artwork is in many collections and she gives a portion of her sales to non-profit organizations. Tommy exudes, “I have never met an art medium that I didn’t want to try. I’ve worked in watercolors, alcohol inks, acrylics, oils, encaustics, pastels and more. It wasn’t until I began to combine them with mediums such as tar gel, or glass beads that I really developed my own style.” Tommy received a Special Recognition Art Award in “The Healing Power of Art: Love, Peace, Unity & Hope” for her painting “Flowers Help”. She is also featured in an article “Artists Confront Life’s Challenges With The Help of The Healing Power of Art” that shares more of her healing art and inspiration. leapforartnyc.com
Corina Ioana
Corina Ioana blends various mediums and works of art using canvas, original photographs, paintings, and drawings. Shown here is “Technicolor Dreams, digital painting, metal print 36″ x 42″. About it she states “Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of ‘Technicolor Dreams,’ a digital pop art masterpiece from my ‘Femme Fatale’ Collection. This vibrant artwork showcases a headshot of a female figure as the focal point, surrounded by a dynamic explosion of splashes and lines in vivid hues. With half-red, half-green lips, mismatched blue and red eyes, and an intriguing face divided into black and white stripes, this captivating portrait challenges conventional beauty standards and invites viewers to question the essence of individuality.” corinafoto.com
Read an Art Review “Corina Ioana Creates Bold, Vibrant and Empowering Artwork” by Renee Phillips.
Patricia Nah Roche
Patricia Nah Roche is a Singaporean artist who specializes in nature and landscape art, focusing on water, clouds, mountains, the seasons and more. Her works of art are found in many private collections worldwide. She has participated in several Chinese painting exhibitions. One of Patricia’s paintings was selected for “The Healing Power of Color” 2023 exhibition. She states, “My inspiration has always been nature’s awesome beauty or grandeur viewed in certain light or season. I prefer to paint the brighter side of things.” Shown here is “Soultree”, from the “Reflection” series, acrylic, ink and pastel on canvas, 40″ x 30″. patrochegallery.com
Alison Thomas
Alison Thomas is an award winning photographer / artist whose work stimulates the viewer to explore more deeply the way beauty is seen and experienced by removing much of the detail and leaving only the essence. She reminds us, “Many times, our eyes get lost in the details or the flaws and we miss the beauty of the scene before us.” Alison specializes in panoramas both vertical and horizontal. Her work is shown in several galleries in the Virginia and Maryland area. Shown above: Country Road Orange, Dirt Road, and Yellow Path, digitally modified photographs, each 8.5″ x 35″. serenityscenes.com
Read an Art Review “Alison Thomas Creates Resplendent Nature-Inspired ‘Serenity Scenes’” by Renee Phillips.
Janice Phelps Williams
Janice’s uplifting art is imbued with joyful colors, engaging organic forms, rhythmic compositions, and inspirational messages. She states, “There are few things as magical as taking a piece of paper and creating something interesting and colorful on its blank, white surface. Thinking of the nuances of color, shape, and line can hold my interest for hours as with each mark I consider something — life, love, loss or hope. It all transfers to the tool I am using and is forever captured in the piece, which then seems to be like a friend waving to the future me from the past and making all the days of my life present at once.” Shown here is “A World of Wonder”, ink, metallics, 19″ x 24″. janicephelpswilliams.com
David G. Rickman
“I’m seeking to create something that will flood our heart, mind, and soul with a sense of hope and excitement! My art helps me to work thru difficulties and promote a sense of soul healing for myself as well. My process of co-creating with the Creator is a spiritual and therapeutic experience that promotes healing internally. One of the main areas that I’m passionate about are ‘Healing Arts’ projects that integrate the arts with healthcare and the well-being of people. It’s such a great way to communicate and help others in so many ways.” Shown here is “Beyond the Blue”, acrylic, 30″ x 40″. dgrickmanart.com
Andrea Kay
I create 3-D mixed media bird sculptures and 2-D bird collage from torn paper I make or paint, wire and found objects, then I write a story for each piece. 3-D birds swing on a branch or rest on a wood perch. I love to bring new life to random paper and stray objects and create my interpretation of one of nature’s most magical creatures that lift spirits and embody hope –– guaranteed to fill you with joy. My work has been featured by such organizations as the American Society on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association. Shown above is “Belle”, handmade and painted paper, found objects and wire on swinging wood perch, 8.5″ x 4.5″. andikayart.com
Judy Hatlen
Judy Hatlen’s gorgeous nature-inspired art is in many collections and she has created many portrait commissions. She states, “It’s important to have a peaceful haven where people can nourish their spirit and renew their energy. My artwork is meant to help create that. Through my close-up, detailed views of nature, and my wildlife scenes, I encourage the viewer to slow down, observe, and marvel at the intricacy of God’s creation. My images of rural life are an invitation come away from the rush of modern life, enjoy a sunset, and feel the peace of a life lived close to the land.” Shown here is “Hummingbird with Purple Columbines”, acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 16″. Judy’s art has been selected for “The Healing Power of Color” 2024 Invitational Exhibition. judysartco.com
Mary Manning
Mary Manning creates breathtaking and mystical works of art. She uses nature as her source of inspiration and transforms red mountains, national parks and wild creatures into energizing and healing paintings. She is skilled in a range of mediums including oils, acrylics, watercolors and mixed media and her art is in many private, public and museum collections. Painting and drawing all of her life, Mary became a professional artist more than 15 years ago, dedicating her life to seeing beauty through her eyes and heart, letting it flow from her brushes. Shown here is “Zion Canyon”, an oil on linen panel that captures a favorite view visited many times. It measures 24″ x 32″ including the frame. marymanningnewwest.com
Mary is featured in our “The Healing Power of Art Inspired by Nature” exhibition on this website.
Hiske Tas Bain
Dutch-born artist Hiske Tas Bain creates paintings that capture “fleeting moments of memory, nature, dreams, different places and culture.” She is inspired by Magic Realism and stimulated by her world travels. She explains, “I am interested into changing reality into a positive experience.” Hiske has exhibited worldwide and has received many commissions for her work. Her art was selected to receive a top award in “The Spirit of Resilience” exhibition and her art has been featured in “The Healing Power of Elements” and “The Healing Power of Color” juried exhibitions in 2023. In 2024 her art was chosen for “The Healing Power of Art Inspired by Nature” Invitational Exhibition. Hiske has been featured in many publications such as Who’s Who in Visual Art, Germany, and Art in Vogue, UK. Shown here is her painting “Empress”, acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 24″. From the tarot, it signifies renewal, spring, fertility, and more. hisketas-fineart.com
Vasu Tolia
Dr. Vasundhara Tolia, known as Vasu Tolia, is a visual artist and former physician whose work bridges the realms of art and healing. Specializing in abstract and semi-abstract art, Vasu’s creations are designed to inspire and soothe viewers, making them ideal for therapeutic spaces. Her painting “The World United” was featured on the cover of the CDC’s *Emerging Infectious Diseases* journal, highlighting her role in connecting art with public health. Vasu’s art has been exhibited nationwide, earning her several awards, including the Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award. As a former Tenured Professor of Pediatrics at Wayne State University, she combines her medical expertise with her artistic vision to create work that resonates on both an emotional and intellectual level. Shown here is “Soul Music”, mixed media on canvas, 24″ x 30″ x 1.5″. vasutolia.art
Karen H. Salup
Karen H. Salup is a nationally renowned fine artist whose spectacular abstract art has been featured in many publications including The New York Times. She has had numerous exhibitions throughout the U.S. She wrote, “‘Blue Rhapsody’ is a 40″ x 40″ painting that inspires my feelings of music, Jazz! As abstract art is an unpredictable source of imagination, it is a way of communication. My work evolves through a balance of analytical knowledge and creative energy which you can feel in all my paintings. During my painting practices as a professional artist and instructor, it is advantageous to exercise the basic elements and principles of art, including compositional formats and color theory. The application or building layers with additional media reconstructs the work into abstraction.” karenhs.com
Bob Dooley
Bob Dooley is an outstanding contemporary realist painter who illuminates the magic and sense of wonder in the world of nature. Primarily a painter of landscapes, he also accepts commissions for other subjects. His art has been described as “inspirational and healing, with a superb sense of vibrancy and attention to detail.” He states, “My art comes from a place where I grew up. We had fields behind the house and then 2-3 miles of woods. I was immersed with nature there. I played in the woods, streams, and brooks. It was a place of inner healing and a kinship with a higher power that kept me grounded.” Bob was selected for “The Healing Power of Elements” 2023 exhibition and received a Special Friend Award. Shown here is “Mountain Stream”, oil on panel, 20″ x 16″. bobdooleyart.com
D Yael Kelley
D Yael Kelley lives and works in the Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood in St. Petersburg Florida. She is an internationally collected expressionist artist and arts advocate, “embracing Art as therapy, empathy, healing, and connection.” About her painting “Remember I”, she states, “when I travel the further most landscapes of my private soul, it is the lost ancestors, the forgotten stories, I long to connect with. Painting and manifesting those ghostly images of my most intimate liminal spaces, opened portals and thresholds crossed.” D Yael Kelley’s paintings have been selected for several exhibitions including the recent “The Healing Power of Elements” exhibition in 2023. Shown here is “Remember I”, oil and metal leaf, 30″ x 24″. dyaelkelley.com
Patricia Gould
My inspiration comes from travel in Asia, East Africa, Russia, Antarctica, and throughout North America and Europe. My voice is whispering a tribute to the incredible beauty of nature. Obsessively drawn to trees, rocks, all forms of water, and animals, I portray these subjects as if they were asking me to reveal their messages to the world. My paintings, photographs, and fiber art are dramatic portraits of Earth. I hope to draw the viewers into these scenes to share the exhilaration I feel and to cherish the wonders of the place we call home.” Shown above is “Together Forever”, acrylic and Shiva oil paintstiks on canvas, 30″ x 30″ x 2.25″. angelfiredesigns.com
Marcella Rose
Marcella Rose traces her artistic roots and love for the natural world back to her formative years growing up on a western Minnesota farm. Following graduation from Minnesota State, Moorhead, Marcella’s art career carried her to Phoenix, Kansas City, Spokane and Santa Fe. She now resides on Prairie Lake, near Pelican Rapids, MN. Marcella owns Lady of the Lake Studio and Rose Gallery, offering inspirational fine art encompassing oil painting, jewelry design and sculpture. For many years she has been represented by prestigious galleries in the U.S. including The Capital Gallery in Bismarck and Medora, ND and The Grande Gallery, at the Dayton’s Market in Minneapolis, MN. Animals, symbology and feminine figures are the focus of her work. Shown here is “Essence of Grace”, oil and gold leaf on canvas, 72” x 84”. marcellarose.com
Stone Michaels
Stone Michaels is an acclaimed inspirational artist and author who lives in Washington, DC. He states, “As an artist and writer I’ve strived to answer to a voice greater than mine throughout my life, and as I did, I expressed myself nonstop. Writing is more than communication. Writing is an art, a teacher, and a gift.” Shown here is “Fishermen’s City,” a photograph from Stone’s Greek Collection. About it he wrote, “This breathtaking image captures the essence of Mykonos, with its white-washed buildings and vivid blue accents. The apartment buildings in the forefront ‘pop’ off the photograph, drawing the eye in and creating a sense of depth and perspective. It transports us to another world and inspires us to embrace the beauty of life.” Website not available, however you can find him on instagram@stonemichaels06
Painting A New World
Painting A New World is an organization founded in 2008 by Agnes Jorgensen and Andre Chatelain, husband and wife and humanitarians from Canada. Their mural projects are funded through the sales of their original artworks. “The aim of Painting A New World is to create positive change by employing artists in Africa and Haiti and educating communities about their environment and future through a mural art program. Murals are painted on school walls and/or community centers by local artists. We have 32 completed murals in Africa to date.” ~ Agnes Jorgensen and Andre Chatelain, Artists and Founders paintinganewworld.com
HPAA has included Agnes Jorgensen and Andre Chatelain in our “World Changers” series. Read an interview with them.
Manhattan Arts International
The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS is an initiative of Manhattan Arts International. It has been a leading advocate for under-recognized and accomplished artists from around the world. We created our website in 2000 and have been dedicated to promoting and rewarding artistic excellence in all styles and mediums. We offer a curated artist membership program, online gallery, juried online exhibitions, and articles about art and artists. ~ Renee Phillips, Founder, Director and Curator manhattanarts.com