Butterflies in Alcohol Ink

Hi my name is Virginia

I am a self taught artist, an online art teacher, a Art4Healing Facilitator, a Domestic Violence Advocate, a mother of a special needs child, a passionate survivor of domestic abuse and a woman on a mission to help support the healing of women.

MY STORY:

In 2017 I filed a restraining order against my husband. That was the single hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The moment the judge granted me full custody of my son and a 3 year no contact restraining order, was the single most amazing moment in my life. After 3 days of fighting for myself in court without a lawyer, 3 days of getting beaten up by his highly paid lawyer, the judge acknowledged me for all that I had been through. He saw through all of the BS that was presented by my Ex. In that moment all of my childhood abuse, all of the abuse from my ex, all of the trauma I had been through leading up to that moment suddenly had been validated. Someone believed me and gave me relief. September 13, 2017 was the first day of my new life.

I had been in therapy for 2 years prior to leaving my husband, and so it continued. I did everything I could to learn how to heal. It was a challenging journey. Nobody wants to dig into their past and relive the trauma week after week. EMDR Therapy is what ultimately helped me heal, but it wasn't easy. I had to CHOOSE to lean into all of the pain so that I could move on.

The most amazing thing happened when I put a pencil to paper, at the advice of my therapist. I discovered I could draw!!!! I had dabbled in art when I was younger but I never really explored it because of the fear of judgement. My therapist encouraged me to continue exploring creative expression. In the spring of 2018, I decided to sell my shares of a gym I owned and create a new life for myself. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I knew I couldn't dedicate the time I needed as a part owner of a start up business, so my partners let me out of the agreement. My amazing son was my priority and I needed to explore a career that allowed me to put him first. My entrepreneurial spirit took hold when a friend of mine asked me to teach a paint party at her home. A lightbulb went off in my head and I realized I could make a living as an artist! I knew I wasn't a professional artist, but I had confidence in my teaching abilities. And so the story began.

I now make a living teaching paint parties on location. I offer several online classes and membership options. I sell my art and take commissions. I paint murals and signs and I am truly living my best life. I have learned to use my pain as power and I intend to help as many people as I can do the same. "Past Pain is Present Power" Clarissa Estes.

Thank you for reading my story. I would love to for you to join our community where we are all becoming better versions of ourselves everyday!

Virginia Crowe.