One woman’s journey through cancer and oil paintings

Copious sources of artistic inspiration abound whether internal or external. Local painter, Amy Wagner, discovers her subjects by employing both means.Like many painters, she’s turned landscapes, flowers, and other natural scenes into her subject. However, she has also manifested what to many is a frightening health diagnosis and treatment plan, albeit unexpectedly, into a 30-piece art series.

Ironically, much of her art is inspired by her home and surroundings. Many of her pieces feature landscape views, barns, and animals that can be seen from her home on a 400-acre “Angel Farm” in Scio.

While color is the basis of her artistic inspiration, her art reflects her life.  Two years ago, the day before Thanksgiving in 2006, Wagner was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Though the diagnosis came after a year of suffering headaches, finding that treatment provided her with artistic images was a pleasant surprise.

She has thought of titling the journal, which she sent to the publisher for review in late October, “Inspired Radiants.”  She also thinks of selling these journals in hospital gift shops and cancer centers so others can interpret their own journey as more than a frightening cancer experience.

“It was almost harder after all of it to say `okay’ and get back into everyday life,” Wagner said. “Now, I want to wake up in the morning and say, `I’m an artist and also a mom.’”