When Marissa first walked into ArtMakers, she was not trying to tell her story. She was looking for a place where she could breathe.
Growing up in Colorado, Marissa carried experiences that stayed with her into adulthood. For a long time, she did not have the words for what she was feeling. That began to change when she found art.
About five years ago, she picked up a paintbrush for the first time. What started as something creative quickly became something much deeper. Painting gave her a way to release emotions she had been holding onto and begin making sense of them.
“Creating art makes me feel like I am releasing my trauma,” she shared. “Sometimes I’m even remembering things I didn’t know I still carried.”
The process was not always easy. There were moments when painting brought up emotions she did not expect, and she had to stop and sit with them. Still, she continued to come back. Over time, art became something she could return to when she needed it most.
For the past four years, Art Makers has been that place for her. It is somewhere she feels safe, supported, and accepted. A place where she can create freely and be herself.
Through that consistency, Marissa began to notice real change. She started to understand herself differently and recognize patterns she wanted to break. She began to build a sense of self that felt stronger and more stable.
“Art has brought me peace within my crazy life,” she said. “It’s teaching me how to love myself.”
One of her most meaningful pieces, Tree of Life, reflects that growth. Created in memory of her nephew, the painting represents both loss and resilience, and the journey she has taken to get to where she is today. Today, the piece is displayed in the lobby of our Downtown Wellness Center, where it continues to offer comfort and meaning to others
Now, Marissa is ready to share her work with others.
This year, she is participating in stART the Conversation again. For her, this is not just about showing art. It is about allowing people to see a part of her story.
She hopes her work can reach people who may be going through something similar. She wants her paintings to live in spaces where they can offer comfort and remind others that healing is possible.
For Marissa, art has become more than something she does. It is something that continues to change her life.
*Name has been changed.
