Evelyn Humphreys, coordinator of the Chance to Choose program, shows an art journal she used to help her get through chemotherapy. She helped spearhead an art therapy show to help other cancer patients.
Photograph by: Lisa King , NOW
Purple meant anger, blue signified support and yellow represented life - during the darkest times in Evelyn Humphreys' life, the use of colour helped see her through.
A program coordinator with the Chance to Choose job search initiative, Humphreys was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009. She has since undergone five surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy.
Unable to convey her thoughts with any semblance of consistency at the time, Humphreys turned to art, specifically painting, and created a series of art journals to help illustrate her thoughts and emotions.
Now cancer free, Humphreys and a handful of her Chance to Choose clients are hosting an art fair today (Friday) for cancer patients and their families.
"I'm not an artist, but painting really helped me because it helped focus my brain," Humphreys said.
"When I started painting my journal, it was so amazing.
It was so therapeutic for the brain and it was a bit of an escape."
In staging today's show, Humphreys hopes to accomplish a pair of goals: to help introduce other cancer patients to the world of art journals, while raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Running from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Old Orchard Hall, the show will feature a handful of accomplished artists from throughout the community offering tips and starting points for the artistic process
"We'll start off with some music playing, and then we'll take some deep breaths," Humphreys said.
"And then we paint two lines. From there, we will figure out what [those lines] mean to you."
It's hoped the money raised through today's event will subsidize 75 art kits - which consist of brushes, a canvas and a journal - to be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
On top of that, the group is hoping to raise enough money to buy patio furniture for the exterior of a cancer recovery facility in Vancouver, so those undergoing treatment can paint outside.
Humphreys also hopes to expand the initiative and hold similar functions in other Metro Vancouver cities.
"It's not hard to recall what it felt like when you lost your hair, and what it felt like when you walked into a specific room in the hospital. You don't forget that," Humphreys said.
"But this journal process helps so many people - to paint all you need is an open mind, a paintbrush and some paints."
Evelyn Humphreys, coordinator of the Chance to Choose program, shows an art journal she used to help her get through chemotherapy. She helped spearhead an art therapy show to help other cancer patients.
Photograph by: Lisa King , NOW
