Body Acceptance Bodypaint Series

I believe that being truly Heard, Seen and Accepted is healing. And I believe that this art can foster empathy, growing our compassion muscles, as it invites the viewer to see into another's world.  

With this series, each client has something they’re processing about their body. They have decided to jump into this work with me and include this process as a tool in their growth.

I spend time with each client interviewing them, listening carefully to get a sense of what might serve them, which informs my design. I sometimes include a therapist in these conversations, to deepen the experience and help me clarify how I can best be of service. 

While I am designing and painting, I will ask questions like “tell me more about the thing you were talking about: where does that live in your body? Is there a color that feels like that?" I’ve discovered that it’s better not to have the design too tightly planned too soon in the process, so there is room for things to evolve with what feels true in the moment.

I often paint in a photographer's studio, before we do a professional photo shoot together. A good photographer can add so much, between lighting, adjusting the body, and cheerleading for a terrific experience!

Mastectomy Garden

“Bodies can be beautiful this way too” is what Julia wants other women facing breast cancer to know! Read the blog to see more pictures and learn all about the meaning in this art here

May we embrace ourselves, as our identities and bodies change shape at different times in our lives!

As a young woman, Patricia did some artistic modeling for a sculptor. She wanted to again get to experience herself as Art in this body that middle age has brought, and to honor who she is now, as her roles are changing.

We decided that a full-body abstract design would allow us to play with gestures and angles freely.  As she told me about herself at this time of life, I heard things that ended up in the painting: phoenix fire-colors for transformation, sacred geometry for inner knowing, the moonlight of divine feminine energy, the wonderous mechanics of body systems. I enjoyed celebrating the beauty I found in the natural shapes and curves of her body.

A favorite moment for me was in the photo shoot when I told Devi "Ok, now forget that she’s a person. See her as a sculpture.” I love how abstract and interesting the photos got! And only afterwards did I realize that Patricia had become a 'sculptor's model' again! 

"As a woman living with disease and dysfunction affecting my pelvic space, the process of sharing my stories with Brenda and having them painted on me required deep, slow, and careful work together. We called in the areas of my life that connect me to my womb, the cyclical nature of my snake, the herbs used by my mother and her mother, the dance I was taught by women and for women that brings me joy to be in my body: in all her capacity to for pain, pleasure, exhaustion and comfort. Being painted by Brenda was a beautiful weaving of the many parts of myself that bring me resilience. It is an honor to have been a part of this project, bringing voice to my womb space. " 

These projects are FOR and ON people dealing with

• cancer

• mastectomy

• disordered eating

• chronic pain

• pregnancy

• dialysis changes

• gender issues

• body image

• aging

• what else…?

Know someone who'd like to participate?

You can see & read about a few more of these projects in the Blog section

Funded in part by a grant from