My name is Tony Thompson and I am a 28 year old (three time) survivor of hemorrhages located in my brainstem which were caused by a cavernous angioma. I have also been a career artist for several years and an avid soccer player for over 20 years. Throughout the experience of having, and working to recover from, these bleeds (and the deficits they left me with) the art that I create has taken new paths and has become a form of therapy for me.

After my first and second hemorrhages, with excellent physical and occupational therapy, I was fortunate enough to recover to about 95% normal and return to playing soccer and making art for a living. During the periods where my symptoms were most severe, I was not able to create art, which has been part of my daily life since I was very young.

Each time, I have pushed myself to start to create again despite the frustrating deficits that did not allow me to work in my normal fashion which involved imagery relying heavily on sharp clean line work. Working with the deficits, I found new outlets and styles to express the symptoms I was experiencing and my feelings that could be very dark at times and very hopeful at others. Currently, I am working to recover from my third bleed which happened in November of 2013. These images have been created during the period since the third hemorrhage, and I am hopeful that I will yet again make a significant recovery from where I am now. 

On wood with polyurethane coating over image:

"Mug of Hope" 5 1/2 x 6 1/2 in.

"Healing Heart" 4 1/2 x 5 in

"We See With Hope" 4 x 5 in

They are durable enough to be used as coffee/tea coasters, could be mounted and framed together as a single piece, or could be hung separately as a hopeful reminder for you in every room.