Art in all its forms has many therapeutic qualities. Imagine a home without art on the walls… hard to do, isn’t it? Our latest story draws attention to a well known disease known as Postpartum Depression, depression that occurs after childbirth. Katie Todd was bold enough to share her personal experience with this disease that she was able to conquer thanks to her talent with a paint brush.

I started painting a series of landscape paintings as a new mother, suffering with postpartum depression. I found that an hour of painting during my daughter’s nap time did wonders for my mood. Unlike diapers, paintings stayed done. It was an immediate accomplishment, and also provided a time for reconnecting with myself. The paintings gave me a focus, visually, on the walls of my living room. Gazing out on a horizon is calming. There are no vista views from the windows of my home. So I began painting these landscapes to give me a sense of open space that doesn’t exist in, or around my urban homestead. My daughter is now 7, and our family is happy and thriving.

I found that expansive horizons in nature encourage a deep breath, and quieted thoughts. My paintings are intended to offer viewers a space of their own to escape for a moment as well. Several of them are currently displayed in a variety of medical and wellness settings including Oregon Health Science University, Pacific Women’s Health Clinic, Vancouver, WA, Body Mechanics Bodywork and Pilates Studio, Portland, OR. I receive emails from clients and patients affirming that the art on the waiting room walls gave them a sense of calm and serenity despite the medical challenge they or their loved ones were facing. Many mothers have told me that the scenes offer them a sense of peace and respite in the middle of a busy day at home with the kids, or a sense of relief upon returning from a long day of work only to begin their second mothering job. I repeatedly hear that the paintings seem to emit a soothing quality that people just love to be around.

We are sure you’ll agree that her paintings truly do evoke a feeling of peacefulness and calm. We can certainly see why so many have reached out to her to thank her for making their toughest days a little easier. We’d like to thank Katie for ensuring that her paintings are used in medical settings where patients who may be suffering from the same symptoms as she did can take comfort in them.