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Ron Hea

Artist Ron Head has always been involved with non verbal communication; continually seeking a path to connection through art. The Artist has devoted his life to creating sculptures and paintings hoping to “touch the heart of another.”

Ron is a nationally acclaimed and award winning artist who grew up in West Michigan before settling in Arizona. He still maintains a studio in West Michigan and exhibits in both Michigan and Arizona as well as New Mexico. The artist invites commissions for murals as well as paintings and sculptures in both bronze and one of a kind terracotta.  Last year, Ron generously donated his bronze sculpture ‘Courage & Faith’ for auction, to American Healing Arts Foundation, in commemoration of 9/11.

Wiltis 'Wolf' White

Hi. My name is Wiltis, but you can call me ‘Wolf’. I am part Navajo & Scottish. Raised on the reservation of Gallup, New Mexico, my first language is Navajo Athabaskan (which incidentally utilized in the Korean War for ‘code-talking’. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, and I took some Life drawing classes at Mesa Community College (AZ). For the most part, I profess, pretty much being self-taught on my own accord.

We must each make an account of the gifts we have been given in this life. (Luke 19:11) Though we all must face a barrage different trials and tribulations or even face the demons of our own hell and bear the cross of that, which we have passed through. Let us not forget that, “We” as human beings, have been given the ‘power’ to do all things, through our living, Spirit-Will and that, of our individual abilities that we each possess within us; have been allotted a measured portion from the Almighty Giver of Life!

Christine Sutherland

Focusing on building an image in layers of wax and pigment. Utilizing hot wax and pigments students will learn how to paint and fuse the wax to a wooden panel. Imagery can be hand painted or come from existing student drawings on paper, imbedded papers and transferred copies of imagery (for instance a copy of military insignia can be burnished into the surface of the painting).  Copies must be on a “Xerox” type copy machine (toner).  Students should be able to take home their work at the end of the session or if they choose to sign up for multiple sessions they can continue to refine their image or begin another. Beginners very welcome.

Using French DuPont Dyes, heavy charmeuse silk, and a wax resist, I begin to layer…

My painting process is a combination of watercolor painting and batik. Applying dyes using squirrel hairbrushes and a bamboo brush to apply hot wax used as a resist, layering the dyes and wax to build up the saturation of colors and design. The fabric’s ability to absorb, the order in which dyes are layered, all contributes to the hues and tones of the final painting. The more layers of dye the deeper the saturation of color, the heavier the silk, the more dyes are absorbed. I use a heavy charmeuse silk to get the most saturation of color and by using the heavier weight silk allows for more textures as I build the layers of dyes. When the painting is finished, I remove the wax by using an iron to heat the wax between two sheets of absorbent paper on both sides of the silk, steaming the silk in a special steamer for four hours creates a chemical reaction where the dyes and silk become one, the final painting is then permanent and is washed and dry cleaned to remove any residual wax.

“Rapidly spreading on silk, transparent dyes cause the artist to swiftly create the painting with spontaneous action. My painting process is similar to a jazz musician; I begin with a general vision in mind, sketches alongside, and I go with the flow, capturing the mood of the day, trusting my experience to improvise.”

Lori Landis

Lori Landis is passionate about finding ones creative inner self through the therapy of art. She knows, as she has had to overcome polio in her arm, shyness and feeling inhibited. Her story was moving; she touched the veterans deeply and helped them greatly. Sharing her story was something they related to after returning from their wars. “My media is acrylic paint and used in many of my paintings collage, charcoal, metals, gold or copper leaf, artists’ crayon, pastel and heavy and subtracting, I change the painting many times until it feels right to me. It could take a week or months. I work on 2-4 paintings at a time because I need to let the paint and gels dry and to think and let the paintings get into my subconscious mind to percolate.

I’m working on myself too. This journey I’ve under taken, as an artist is to grow as a person and have the courage to face myself to just be. Letting go of old ideas or thinking of the past or future and just being in the present. The conversation between the canvas and myself is truth. I know in my heart and soul when a painting is complete. It’s a feeling of contentment.

Joan Miro, Mondrian, Klimt, Jasper Johns and Diebenkorn are very different artists but I feel their influence just the same. My work is geometrical to a point but many people have described my work as very quiet in feeling and look. I pursue beauty and serenity and use rich colors to get that feeling across.

As for the viewer of my work, I like them to step back away from the painting they see and see something different than when they are close up. There is a little surprise like a small painting within a larger painting. Sometimes it is obvious and sometimes not.”

As a Blues singer and slam poet, Sarge is excited to  join forces with the American Healing Arts Foundation; We are proud and honored to have him share his talent with our veterans!

This plaque is part of a monument to Arizona women veterans.

Invisible Soldier

You can tell her by the twinkle in her eye,
At parades when the flag marches by.
She served our country and she served it very well.
Some have even served a tour or two in Hell.

She suffered hardship and never ceased to care.
It gave us strength just to know that she was there.

She was a leader, you could tell by the rank she wore,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

She can march, she can fly, and she can sail.
She proved that bravery isn’t exclusive of the male.
She did every job she was asked and more,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

Now, it is finally time to right a wrong.
Honor our sister soldier; hear her song.
It’s very clear that she’s a patriot to the core.
Don’t let her be the invisible soldier anymore.

Sarge Lintecum

Hal Stewart

Even as a child playing in the creeks and streams of southern Illinois, Hal would often make small figures from the clay found there, leaving them to harden in the sun.

As an adult, his talent was put on hold as life intruded.  Hal served in the U.S. Navy and attended college before moving to Arizona in 1968.  He spent his entire working life in sales and service in the construction industry.  While working full time, he owned a small farm and ranch in southeastern Arizona and raised show horses in the Phoenix area. He also rode, in full Nez Perce Indian regale, in the first Fiesta Bowl Parade held in Phoenix.

Only after retirement did his love of sculpting reappear. With encouragement from a friend, he produced his first real sculpture entitled “Treaty Talker”.  The quick selling success of that piece led to his continuation in sculpting.  Today, he has produced over 30 bronzes with an eclectic subject matter ranging from cowboys and horses, to Native American Indians, birds, and animals.

In his artistic career, Hal gives generously of his time. For four years he was a volunteer art teacher to incarcerated youths at an Arizona’s juvenile detention center.  He has been guest speakers at numerous art clubs and organizations.  As a veteran himself, he is currently involved in teaching sculpting to disabled American Veterans.

The winner of numerous awards, he was selected by the United States Park Service to be the artist-in-residence for the summer of 2005 at the north rim of The Grand Canyon. Today, one of his pieces entitled “Chasing Star Kachina” is in the permanent art collection of the U.S. Government and is displayed at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.His sculptures are found in private collections, Corporate Offices, and galleries throughout the world.  A visit with this interesting individual reveals his optimistic view of the world.

Ed Rooney

Ed focused his area of study in professional counseling, art therapy and trauma, abuse and deprivation. Ed started in the helping profession working with adults going through an in-patient, addiction and recovery program. Later Ed worked with court ordered or voluntary individuals participating in an outpatient addiction program for Adults. Ed has worked with the Child Protective Services of Arizona, to help prevent abuse, neglect and family disruption, providing support, counseling, education and community resource referrals. More recently, Ed has been working with individuals, couples and families, especially children and adolescents who are struggling with severe trauma, abuse, neglect, grief and loss and attachment and bonding issues.

Guadalupe Apodaca

Guadalupe was born in Fort Collins, Colorado. He began drawing as soon as he could pick up a pencil, supporting himself in construction while developing his artistic skills at night.

Guadalupe’s break came when the late George Cherapov, a well known Russian Artist, employed him to assist his plein air classes in Vermont in turn afforded him the opportunity to focus on his artistic passion full time. He did not look back, and became an acclaimed member and recipient of numerous awards from the Pastel Society of America and juried shows across the United States. His original oils and pastels are found in some the finest homes and Corporations in America and Mexico.