Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Todd Whysong. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Todd, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The Positive Painting Project was born from immense grief and determination to honor our daughter’s legacy. Along with my wife Alisa, we co-founded the project as a tribute to our daughter, Katie, who tragically lost her battle with depression and died by suicide in March of 2021.  Katie, a talented artist herself, had envisioned using art to spread messages of hope and positivity to those struggling with their mental health. It was her idea to create uplifting artwork in schools and other community spaces to let people know they are not alone.
Following her devastating death, Alisa and I were determined to bring Katie’s vision to fruition. The Positive Painting Project became our way of channeling our grief into a powerful force for good, continuing the conversation about mental health that our daughter was so passionate about.
The Positive Painting Project aims to destigmatize mental health struggles and encourage open dialogue through the collaborative creation of murals and other art installations. These artworks, often featuring uplifting messages and vibrant imagery, serve as a lasting reminder of Katie’s compassionate spirit and her belief in the healing power of art. The initiative has grown to include numerous schools and community organizations, turning a personal tragedy into a widespread movement of hope and support.

Todd, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The Positive Painting Project is a community-based initiative that uses the power of art to open up conversations about mental health and prevent suicide. At its heart, the project is a tribute to Katie Whysong, a talented young artist who lost her battle with depression in March of 2021 at just 15 years old. Her vision of spreading positivity and support through art is the driving force behind this movement. The core idea of the project is to bring people together to create vibrant, uplifting paintings and murals that feature messages of hope, encouragement, and solidarity. These artworks serve as powerful, lasting reminders to those who may be struggling that they are not alone and that it’s okay to not be okay.

How It Works: A Simple Yet Powerful Process
The Positive Painting Project operates on a straightforward and inclusive model, making it easy for communities, especially schools, to get involved. Here’s a breakdown of how a typical project unfolds:
1. Community Engagement: The project begins by partnering with schools, community centers, or other organizations. We often hold events, such as festivals or school assemblies, to introduce the project and its mission.

2. Collaborative Painting: Participants, who can be students, teachers, parents, and community members of all ages and artistic abilities, are invited to take part in the creative process. They are given canvases each pre-printed with one of six uplifting and encouraging messages to paint with colorful backgrounds. This collaborative and hands-on approach helps to build a sense of community and shared purpose.

3. Messages of Hope: These messages are central to the project’s mission and include the following affirmations:
* You Matter
* Hold On To Hope
* You Are Not Alone
* No Feeling is Final
* It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
* Never Ever Give Up

4. Display and Impact: The finished pieces are then displayed prominently in schools, hallways, and other community spaces. These colorful and positive artworks transform the environment and serve as a constant source of encouragement. The aim is to create a supportive atmosphere where conversations about mental health are normalized and seeking help is encouraged.

For those outside of the area, The Positive Painting Project also offers guidance and resources for individuals and groups to organize their very own painting events. This allows Katie’s message of hope and the project’s impact to spread far and wide. Through this simple act of creating and sharing art, The Positive Painting Project is actively breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and fostering a culture of support and understanding, one painting at a time.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission of the Positive Painting Project is primarily focused on promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention through art, education, and outreach. Key aspects of our mission include:
• Providing opportunities to create art that expresses positive thoughts and feelings.
• Breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide.
• Using visual art to share encouraging messages in schools and community spaces to encourage us to talk openly about mental health and seek help if needed.
The project was started in memory of Katie Whysong to continue her goal of using art to destigmatize the conversation around mental health.

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

While not artists ourselves, I believe the greatest reward for Alisa and me, for starting the Positive Painting Project, is that we get to see Katie’s mission live on. When you lose a child, especially to depression, a piece of you is gone forever. But with this project, we’ve found a way to take that unspeakable grief and turn it into something that creates hope and connection for others. That is a reward that words can barely describe. Katie was a quiet, thoughtful soul, and she had this amazing, powerful idea to use art to help people. The fact that her spirit, her empathy, is still out there fighting the war against mental illness—that is everything to us. This project is her legacy, and carrying that forward for her is the most important reward.
We are putting those messages—”You Matter,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” “Hold onto Hope”—right where kids are struggling, places like school hallways and restrooms. Every time we hear about a note left behind a painting that says, “This helped save my life,” it gives me cold chills, but it’s the ultimate validation. We don’t want another family to suffer like we have, and knowing we’ve helped someone not give up is the greatest reward there is. Depression is a disease. You wouldn’t be ashamed to talk about a broken leg, but people fear judgment when they need help with their mental health. Our project helps change that. By having people—students, parents, and community members—come together to paint these messages, we are forcing the conversation out into the open. Seeing a whole community embrace this message of openness is incredibly rewarding. When you see a student proudly displaying a canvas they painted, or when we walk into a school and see those colorful signs everywhere, those aren’t just pieces of art. They are visual reminders that they are loved, that most feelings are temporary, and that they are not alone. That ownership, that personal connection people have to the art they helped create, is powerful and rewarding to witness.

Contact Info:

• Website: PaintPositive.org
• Instagram: @thepositivepaintingproject
• Facebook: @thepositivepaintingproject
• Yelp: The Positive Painting Project