Portraits Of Hope: Healing in colors

Refer someone: If you or someone in your community is going through a challenge and could use a reminder that they are seen and valued, you can add them to the Portraits of Hope project.
Sponsor a portrait: If you would like to gift a Portrait of Hope to someone you know or to a stranger in need, please reach out.
Support the project: Visit the Art Shop or purchase an original piece from the Advocacy and Spiritual collections to help fund new Portraits of Hope.

Portraits of Hope began during a time of illness and change, when painting became a way to offer care when words were not enough. Each portrait is created through conversation, choosing colours and symbols that reflect a person’s story, strength, and tenderness. The intention is not a perfect likeness, but to say: I see you. You matter.

More than 30 portraits have been gifted to individuals and families as reminders that we do not walk through hard seasons alone.

When the Painting Speaks

Sometimes, the stories within a portrait reveal themselves as I paint. Images, symbols, and even the presence of loved ones who have passed seem to find their way into the work. I do not direct this. I simply listen.

There are moments when a portrait becomes a bridge. Once, a painting emerged that carried the spirit of a daughter who had recently passed. It was created before I knew her story. When her mother saw the painting, she recognized her immediately. Through tears, she shared about her daughter’s life, her art, and the younger sibling who still needed her. The portrait became a message of love, reassurance, and ongoing connection. It was not just art. It was a moment of healing.

"I am deeply grateful for experiences like this. They remind me that art can move in ways we do not always understand. The paintings sometimes know what we need before we do. I honour this work with humility, care, and profound respect for the stories that arrive." - Bianca Baldo