We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Vu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Caroline, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

**I did a Reiki painting for a woman who had just been diagnosed with cancer. This means I pray and channel energy to her through the painting. I’ve gone through cancer, I’m a survivor of 10 years. I do what I did for myself – stay with the possibility of making it through. And I did make it through. It’s an emotional experience and I found myself crying as I painted. I listened to positive affirmations and recited them as I worked. The Reiki painting serves as tool to stay focused on what’s possible. She is doing fine now, and I’d like to think that the artwork was a part of her recovery and will continue to serve as a reminder for her.**

**It’s something that I would’ve wanted for myself when I was first going through the cancer experience. Something to guide me, coming from someone who has been through it, to essentially say that it was possible for them, so it can be for me too.**

Caroline, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

**After I was diagnosed with cancer, I wanted to find a way to enjoy life again. I looked for things that I could explore, and drawing was one of them. That led me to painting, which I was very intimidated by at first. I almost quit shortly after starting, but sticking with it taught me patience and discipline in order to create; and above all, to be open to what unfolds. It’s been rewarding, satisfying, and difficult all at once.**

**One of the lessons I learned during my health hiatus was that the mindset is so important and I started reading up on that, spirituality and energy. I’m interested in exploring the human condition as we weave through life challenges and victories. Painting the series “Becoming” has helped me process some life challenges. It’s several paintings depicting figures in water or water-like atmospheres experiencing different stages of emotions. I use water to represent the constant changes we go through. When I look at each painting, it helps me remember that it’s all temporary; the good, the bad, and everything in-between.**

**When I want to shift my focus from the heaviness of just existing, I paint from photos and pull abstractions from them. The meaning can come while I create, or it can come well after it’s done. They are open-ended and allow for exploration.**

Have you ever had to pivot?

After going through cancer treatment, I struggle with chronic fatigue. It’s something that affects my life every single day. Everything that I do or plan to do is dependent on my energy. I’ve had to approach life differently, taking this huge change into account. While I can still handle normal tasks and activities, there’s always a limit. The more I push beyond that limit, the longer my recovery time becomes. Despite looking healthy, I’ve had to reassess what I allow in my life and what I can realistically take on. I need to ask myself, “Is this important?” “How can I get this done without burning out?” and “Is this even my responsibility to take on?”

I think there’s a misconception that if you see me out and about, then all’s well. In reality, every outing requires plenty of rest before and after. Chronic fatigue or cancer fatigue can be deceiving and I still catch myself misjudging a “good” morning or day as a sign of recovery, only to overextend and pay for it that evening or the next day. But what a “good” day really means is that I’ve learned to manage my limits and respect them. Hopefully, this isn’t forever!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to spread awareness of the power of the mind. While it’s easy to default to fears and worries, it’s essential to refocus our attention on what’s possible. I aim to inspire and empower others using visual tools as guides, helping them navigate their paths and elevate the collective energy, one person at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carolinevu.com
• Instagram: @carolinevuart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarolineVuArt
• Other: https://linktr.ee/carolinevu

Image Credits

Christine Nguyen

James I. Austen

Don Vu