We recently connected with Maddy Greenwald and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddy, thanks for joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

I was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago when I was 45. I spent about 9 months in treatment–surgery, chemotherapy, radiation. Cancer is both time consuming and emotionally consuming and when I was done with all of treatment, I had no idea what I was going to do with myself and felt really lost. And one day, my husband came home with an easel, canvas and paints and said, “I know what you are going to do, you are going to paint again.” It was the greatest gift anyone has ever given me–knowing what I needed more than I did. I had studied art in college but had become a lawyer and had 3 kids and really left painting behind. I always thought I would paint again, but it was always way into the future. It took a dramatic life change and the thoughtfulness of my husband to get me to start painting in the here and now. Giving me the gift of finding myself again is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I started painting again seven years ago, took classes and joined a few art groups with incredibly supportive people. I thought art would be a hobby and didn’t immediately realize it would become my career. I really have to credit the incredible support from the members of the Lawrence park Art Collective. They encouraged me to make my art professional, create a website, have an Instagram account and apply to shows. I was fortunate to be selected for shows throughout Toronto including at Arta Gallery in the chic Distillery District and with the prestigious Ontario Society of Artists. In 2021, I had a solo show at the Niagara Pumphouse Gallery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario with 18 of my paintings. It was an incredible experience including positive media. After 7 years in Canada, I recently moved back to the US and am introducing myself and my art to a whole new audience. I paint in acrylics and focus on landscapes of places that are meaningful to me. For years, it was an exploration of the beautiful Canadian landscape. Now that I am back in the Washington DC area, it is somewhat a nostalgic familiarity of the local area that is inspiring me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Painting is an expression of myself and how I see the world. How many of us get to show our true selves as part of our work and in doing so, learn more about our own feelings and perspectives. It is mindful and therapeutic and emotional  But, the other incredibly gratifying thing about being an artist in seeing others’ reaction to my work. Knowing that my work has touched some people and inspired a memory or emotion is really meaningful.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In Nov. 2021, I was diagnosed with a second breast cancer. In early 2022, I had a double mastectomy and all the muscle from my chest wall and surrounding areas were also removed. I couldn’t raise my arms and hold up a paint brush. Painting had been a source of therapy for me since my previous cancer and now I couldn’t do the thing that took me into a different head space. I had to take a break from painting the large canvases I had come to love–painting standing with lots of movement and reaching to the tops of 4 foot canvases on easels. I began drawing, painting on small pieces of paper while sitting and with very small movements. I couldn’t carry anything over 5 pounds, so I brought very limited supplies to class and scaled everything down. It was frustrating and only a small part of the things that I could no longer do easily. Physical therapy is hard and continuous. While my strength and mobility has come back slowly and I am now painting big again, I am often reminded of limitations by surprise. In the fall, I was hanging an exhibit and I needed to hang the paintings from wires hanging from the ceiling. I couldn’t lift the canvas and reach the wires. I started to cry and felt completely ridiculous– both for not being able to do this simple task, for it upsetting me so much and for needing to ask for help. We like to think of trajectories as going in one direction, but this was a set back and I feel like I am just back to myself again.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maddygreenwaldart.com
• Instagram: @maddygreenwaldart

Image Credits
For my primary image and the 2 images of my studio, please credit Andrea Joseph Photography. The other images are mine.