We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deena Goldstein. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deena below.

Alright, Deena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents infused me with strength, confidence and the ability to go for what I wanted in life. There is no licensing body to become a parent. We are all products of how we were raised and in turn how our parents were raised…everything trickles down. I owe my free-joyful-spirit to my parents. I was blessed with unconditional love, freedom of self expression (running round the house singing at the top of my lungs, untimed laughter outbursts during dinner, family room violin performances, etc.). They embraced who I was and never squelched my desire to express myself. That is where, I believe my creativity came into play. Whether I was painting, singing, or writing…..I was always expressing joy. I felt unconditionally loved, appreciated and free to be me!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a multimedia artist and author of OK, Little Bird. I’ve been exhibiting/selling my artwork (www.deenasart.com) for many years. It is truly my passion to create images on canvas the provoke emotion, memory and feeling. Capturing experiences that don’t seem like experiences, yet they may be silent, powerful moments. My body of work is eclectic, ranging from western, up cycled, multimedia works, to acrylic landscapes. I paint when I’m inspired – moments of inspiration come from stories, experiences or feelings.

Also, I have a business called Pop Art Pets, creating custom pop art on canvas from photos. No two are the same and I love working with the fabulous animal photos – both fun and serious, that my clients share with me. It’s been especially rewarding to work with local charities such as PAC911, Horses Help, Box4Bucks Parkinson’s Fundraiser, and even the Phoenix Zoo, in creating custom pop art that is auctioned or raffled in order for those organizations to raise money. I love giving back through my art.

Recently, I released my memoir, OK, Little Bird (oklittlebird.com). An unplanned book based on the unplanned turn of events with my father. The story is an unforgettable father daughter journey, shared through voicemails, notes, anecdotes, family dinners and lots of love. When Little Bird learns her father is not so invincible, she must navigate uncharted waters of loss. She tackles her grief using the gift of humor from her father. Readers will take a bouncy ride from laughter to tears, turning the last page inspired.

Shelf Unbound Magazine Recommended Read. I’ve been really enjoying connecting with readers all of the country and internationally through conversation, hearing of their shared stories, podcasts and even grief group talks. It’s truly inspiring. I’ve been been so touched my reader correspondence as they share how OK, Little Bird helped them, made them recall people and feelings they left untapped.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist – whether in my artwork or writing – is connecting with others. Creating shared experiences that allow people to tap into feelings, emote, laugh, cry and feel. Through word or paint, creating some kind of insight that awakens people.

It’s always amazing to me and I never take it for granted when people are moved by my words or images. I’m constantly inspired by people and experiences and try to capture the essence of those moments in my work.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have always been a happy and joyful person – until I learned I would lose my father. The ground shifted beneath my feet at the notion that one of the foundational and most influential people in my life, would soon be gone.

There comes a time in every parent child relationship, where roles are reversed. And, the greatest gift I could give my father was to be there for him – we always had each other’s back – so this would not be new, but deeply painful. Time moved slow but ever so quickly, and before I knew it, my father was gone. Weeks before he passed, during one of my last visits with him, he called me “Little Bird” – a nickname he’d never uttered before. I knew at that moment something had profoundly moved me and one year little, OK, Little Bird was published.

When you think you cannot tackle the unimaginable, you can. When you think you cannot persevere without someone you love, you can. I navigated a journey I had no power to avoid, and did it with the gift of humor from my father. The humor we shared between us and our incredible close relationship was the fuel that propelled me toward healing and ultimately writing and sharing my story.

We all love, lose and grieve but how we navigate that journey determines if it will take us down or we will come through it stronger. Humor is an incredible coping tool and it gave me the strength to be resilient and continue moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deenasart.com
• Instagram: @artdee710
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/flywithlittlebird

Image Credits
These are all my original photos.