In February of this year, I became seriously ill with a rare autoimmune neurological condition, Autoimmune Autonomic Gangliopathy (AAG), which forced me to abruptly slow down and embrace stillness in my formerly fast paced lifestyle. 

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I became largely bed-bound and lost the ability to drive, walk, or stand for more than a few minutes at a time. Alongside these physical limitations, my cognitive function also declined, bringing significant brain fog and short-term memory loss that made even simple daily tasks feel unfamiliar and difficult.​

 

Because of this chronic illness, I had to step away from my work as a television news producer, a role that depended on quick decisions, focus, and the ability to act quickly in breaking news situations.

 

​In the quiet, solitude, and deep depression that followed, I began to rebuild through art. After over a decade away from drawing, I came across a video of a creator working digitally and realized it was an activity I could pursue from almost anywhere. 

 

What began as a way to pass time and calm an overwhelmed mind slowly became something more essential -- an anchor, a form of clarity, and a way to exist within my new limits. Art gave me a place to focus without pressure, and in doing so, helped me find a new rhythm within stillness.​

 

Art helped me rediscover who I was -- and who I still am. ​

 

I now create detailed illustrated works inspired by my travels: the architecture, people, and lived details of cities, translated through a slower, more intentional process and shaped by my lived experience of illness and stillness.​

 

Every purchase directly supports my medical care, daily living expenses, and my ability to continue creating.​One day I hope to expand this platform to host all types of artists living with chronic illness, who were suddenly confronted with a slower and more intentional lifestyle. ​

 

Thank you for being here and I look forward to seeing what we all can create together.-- Stella G.