Your commitment to artistic integrity is incredibly powerful. The decision to reject a neatly packaged narrative in favor of raw, authentic representation speaks volumes—not just about your art, but about the realities of breast cancer that many prefer to tidy up. Your refusal to let media dictate the story of your work ensures that Breast Cancer, Female and Young remains a truthful, unfiltered depiction of the lived experience. The depth of emotion in your paintings is undeniable, and I deeply respect your dedication to telling this story on your own terms.
Thank you so much for your kind words about my artistic integrity. I try my best to portray breast cancer, not only as I see it, but as I believe other breast cancer patients (former and current) and their loved ones will see it.
I appreciate your support: after all, why allow the media to hijack my series and portray it in their neat, sound byte way? The best thing the media can do is publicize my work as is -- raw, emotional, and real. Maybe I will one day witness this truthful representation of my work.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you for believing in me and my art series.
I’m pleased to hear you turned down the offer, that was riddled with a huge joyful ending. All breast cancer is never a happy experience and your art expresses the reality of experience that is common to all victims of the disease. A much more representative opportunity expressing the reality will arise when the timing is right. Meanwhile your art work is beautifully honest to the subject it portrays.
Dear Beth, Big Congratulations on your 100th post--that's truly a milestone, and best wishes to you to keep going strong! You are to be admired and lauded for turning down that media offer that would have made your artwork into something it was never intended to be. You're wise to stick to your guns and allow your audience to make their own interpretations of your work. No glossing over the reality here! I love that you've finished two more paintings in the series and I'm really looking forward to seeing them all grouped together--they really are powerful!
Thank you for your congratulations! I'm so glad I hit 100 posts and feel buoyed by your well wishes.
I'm so glad I decided against that media offer. Saying "yes" to portraying my art in a way that wasn't intended would compromise the integrity and authenticity of the paintings. You are so spot-on by saying, "No glossing over the reality here!" Amen to that.
I'm looking forward to seeing them all grouped together, too! Hopefully in a gallery or in another public space somewhere.
First of all, congrats on your 100th post on Substack and congrats on finishing the two wonderful paintings! All accomplishments you can be so proud of. I am proud of you, my friend.
Now, as for the media offer - good for you for saying no! I admire you so much for declining the offer. You stuck with your intuition. Integrity is everything. Every viewer of your paintings will interpret them differently. Each viewer will feel different emotions. That is the whole point of art. Wanting your series to ultimately end up at "joy" was just wrong, but not surprising, of course. You and I know way too much about that stale breast cancer narrative.
This reminds me of an experience I had 12+ years ago regarding my blog. I was contacted by a TV station from Milwaukee. They wanted to come to my house and do an interview. I wasn't as smart as you and said yes. I thought they'd want to capture my cancer rebel, keeping it real take on things. (It was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.) Well, lo and behold, the final piece they ended up airing was completely the typical rah-rah pinktified breast cancer narrative. My story was included with another woman's upbeat (you know the sort) account. They didn't cover any of the points I had wanted covered. Anyway, I felt used and not in a good way. I made a big mistake saying yes and definitely learned my lesson.
I love the way the two paintings turned out. They are powerful. Don't worry about getting media coverage unless it's the kind you want and deserve. This series is going to stir things up in Breast Cancer Land. I just know it.
Thank you for this important read and for sharing your beautiful art.
I always appreciate your support with my art and writing. And thank you so much for your kind feedback on my art. I always appreciate it.
Your experience with the TV reporters sounds awful. How dare they turn breast cancer into that same old crappy BCAM awareness narrative? It's not your fault at all. Certain people are users, and they will use what and who they want to get a good story.
But, truly, I'm no smarter than you. I appeared on local TV during BCAM when I was a new "survivor," and I thought the news piece was about breast cancer truths, and it was the same old narrative that I got swept into by a reporter with the agenda that I'm the heroic survivor. Trust me, it made me sick. I didn't know better at the time, so we have both had similar media experiences. That experience made me suspicious this time when offered a chance to pinkify my artwork, so that's why I said "no" this time around. Because, like you, I had been used in the past to fill a time slot and an agenda.
So, you can see, at the time you made the best decision you could. Now if someone in the media approaches you, you probably will reflect on that first time you let your guard down.
That being said, I've made a number of good media appearances, where I've been treated with respect and where breast cancer wasn't beautified or portrayed as heroic. So, whether we agree to be interviewed or profiled depends on what a media contact is fishing for.
I am so glad you made the decision to follow your intentions for your art. The paintings are coming along so wonderfully. Congratulations on your 100th post. Yay!
Thank you, Nancy, for such a warm congratulations! I so appreciate it. Yep, 100 posts and I still have things to say LOL. I appreciate your kind words on my paintings and on my decision to take ownership and control of my own art. Thank you!
Beth, the paintings have evolved so beautifully. I just love your use of color and the dimensions of the figures.
Kudos to you for turning down the offer. I agree that we don’t need one more narrative that seeks to put a positive spin and sugarcoat the reality. It’s so alienating and isolating to real women who have gone through cancer and treatment. After completing treatment, I used to read those articles and watch those types of videos and think, “Wow. I guess I flunked Survivor 101.“
Eileen, your comment is so powerful. You're right: there are certain societal expectations about what a breast cancer survivor should be like. But these expectations are far from reality. I think some people get caught up in the delusional thinking that breast cancer survivors are tough warrior types, or whatever concocted stereotypes that are created.
And you are like any of us "survivors"; you tried your best to live and continue trying to live. That's all any of us can ever do.
Two great paintings. "Unfinished Business." She embodies for me now, the integrity with which you show up for yourself and others. "Falling--" I feel the sense of not just falling but being pulled into the fall, being consumed by something out of one's control.
In Rick Rubin's book, The Creative Act, he talks about art that makes us feel. As a music producer he said he's not listening for the melody and harmonies of a song as much as he's looking for the feeling. Isn't that what we all want as artists? Art that evokes feeling, and that is a personal interpretation. Your artistic integrity ensures that.
As always, Beth, Sign me your friend and forever fan, ~Stephanie
Stephanie, I really love your interpretations of each painting. Thank you, as always, for your support and thought-provoking comments. I think it's so important as viewers that we emotionally interract with art of all types, whether it be writing, visual arts, dancing, and so on.
Beth, first, great job on both paintings! I love the way the fabric turned out in both, the color and texture of them. And the hair, that was a great idea to add color to it.
But mostly I want to say how proud I am of you for your integrity and decision not to feed the media narrative that almost always misleads and misinforms. Why does the media make these mental shortcuts that allow us to compartmentalize things as not so bad, that interfere with deeper thought, just like a Hollywood movie where there is a happy ending and the hero is a glorified champion?
To me, it is just like the rest of what is happening in this country, the idiocracy that never dives beneath the surface, sparks no empathy or compassion, and no intellectual curiosity. And that feeds on itself, contributing to the erosion of understanding and discovery.
Before I get into an all-out rant here, good for you, saying no to the predictable spin that would have stripped your artistic gift down to a shred of what it means. I have so much more I want to say on that topic, but this is your Substack!
Thank you, Alene, for your kind words about my paintings. I now feel more reassured about the fabric.
And I appreciate your saying I had integrity with this decision. It was an easy decision: do I want people telling me how to portray my art and lose control of my series and do I want to mislead viewers with something so inauthentic? Nope.
Don't worry about ranting. You can rant away on my Substack any time! I value your thoughts and insights. You are right about the idiocracy taking place in this country. It seems all everyone ever wants from politicians and the media is a sound byte. And the U.S. has lost its empathy and compassion -- the very thing that's essential to humanity -- and we are failing as a society.
Your commitment to artistic integrity is incredibly powerful. The decision to reject a neatly packaged narrative in favor of raw, authentic representation speaks volumes—not just about your art, but about the realities of breast cancer that many prefer to tidy up. Your refusal to let media dictate the story of your work ensures that Breast Cancer, Female and Young remains a truthful, unfiltered depiction of the lived experience. The depth of emotion in your paintings is undeniable, and I deeply respect your dedication to telling this story on your own terms.
Hi Sara,
Thank you so much for your kind words about my artistic integrity. I try my best to portray breast cancer, not only as I see it, but as I believe other breast cancer patients (former and current) and their loved ones will see it.
I appreciate your support: after all, why allow the media to hijack my series and portray it in their neat, sound byte way? The best thing the media can do is publicize my work as is -- raw, emotional, and real. Maybe I will one day witness this truthful representation of my work.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you for believing in me and my art series.
I hope you have that opportunity one day, and you'll always look back, grateful that you kept your boundaries. Thank you as always for sharing <3
I’m pleased to hear you turned down the offer, that was riddled with a huge joyful ending. All breast cancer is never a happy experience and your art expresses the reality of experience that is common to all victims of the disease. A much more representative opportunity expressing the reality will arise when the timing is right. Meanwhile your art work is beautifully honest to the subject it portrays.
Hi Susan,
I totally agree with you. Breast cancer is a nightmare. Thank you for your kind words and constant support of my artwork.
Beth, so much respect for your decision. Your art deserves to be presented in a way that truly reflects the reality of breast cancer.
Thank you so much, Marie. I agree that illustrating the reality of breast cancer is paramount. I appreciate your support.
Dear Beth, Big Congratulations on your 100th post--that's truly a milestone, and best wishes to you to keep going strong! You are to be admired and lauded for turning down that media offer that would have made your artwork into something it was never intended to be. You're wise to stick to your guns and allow your audience to make their own interpretations of your work. No glossing over the reality here! I love that you've finished two more paintings in the series and I'm really looking forward to seeing them all grouped together--they really are powerful!
Hi Gerry,
Thank you for your congratulations! I'm so glad I hit 100 posts and feel buoyed by your well wishes.
I'm so glad I decided against that media offer. Saying "yes" to portraying my art in a way that wasn't intended would compromise the integrity and authenticity of the paintings. You are so spot-on by saying, "No glossing over the reality here!" Amen to that.
I'm looking forward to seeing them all grouped together, too! Hopefully in a gallery or in another public space somewhere.
Hi Beth,
First of all, congrats on your 100th post on Substack and congrats on finishing the two wonderful paintings! All accomplishments you can be so proud of. I am proud of you, my friend.
Now, as for the media offer - good for you for saying no! I admire you so much for declining the offer. You stuck with your intuition. Integrity is everything. Every viewer of your paintings will interpret them differently. Each viewer will feel different emotions. That is the whole point of art. Wanting your series to ultimately end up at "joy" was just wrong, but not surprising, of course. You and I know way too much about that stale breast cancer narrative.
This reminds me of an experience I had 12+ years ago regarding my blog. I was contacted by a TV station from Milwaukee. They wanted to come to my house and do an interview. I wasn't as smart as you and said yes. I thought they'd want to capture my cancer rebel, keeping it real take on things. (It was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.) Well, lo and behold, the final piece they ended up airing was completely the typical rah-rah pinktified breast cancer narrative. My story was included with another woman's upbeat (you know the sort) account. They didn't cover any of the points I had wanted covered. Anyway, I felt used and not in a good way. I made a big mistake saying yes and definitely learned my lesson.
I love the way the two paintings turned out. They are powerful. Don't worry about getting media coverage unless it's the kind you want and deserve. This series is going to stir things up in Breast Cancer Land. I just know it.
Thank you for this important read and for sharing your beautiful art.
Hi Nancy,
I always appreciate your support with my art and writing. And thank you so much for your kind feedback on my art. I always appreciate it.
Your experience with the TV reporters sounds awful. How dare they turn breast cancer into that same old crappy BCAM awareness narrative? It's not your fault at all. Certain people are users, and they will use what and who they want to get a good story.
But, truly, I'm no smarter than you. I appeared on local TV during BCAM when I was a new "survivor," and I thought the news piece was about breast cancer truths, and it was the same old narrative that I got swept into by a reporter with the agenda that I'm the heroic survivor. Trust me, it made me sick. I didn't know better at the time, so we have both had similar media experiences. That experience made me suspicious this time when offered a chance to pinkify my artwork, so that's why I said "no" this time around. Because, like you, I had been used in the past to fill a time slot and an agenda.
So, you can see, at the time you made the best decision you could. Now if someone in the media approaches you, you probably will reflect on that first time you let your guard down.
That being said, I've made a number of good media appearances, where I've been treated with respect and where breast cancer wasn't beautified or portrayed as heroic. So, whether we agree to be interviewed or profiled depends on what a media contact is fishing for.
I am so glad you made the decision to follow your intentions for your art. The paintings are coming along so wonderfully. Congratulations on your 100th post. Yay!
Thank you, Nancy, for such a warm congratulations! I so appreciate it. Yep, 100 posts and I still have things to say LOL. I appreciate your kind words on my paintings and on my decision to take ownership and control of my own art. Thank you!
Beth, the paintings have evolved so beautifully. I just love your use of color and the dimensions of the figures.
Kudos to you for turning down the offer. I agree that we don’t need one more narrative that seeks to put a positive spin and sugarcoat the reality. It’s so alienating and isolating to real women who have gone through cancer and treatment. After completing treatment, I used to read those articles and watch those types of videos and think, “Wow. I guess I flunked Survivor 101.“
Eileen, your comment is so powerful. You're right: there are certain societal expectations about what a breast cancer survivor should be like. But these expectations are far from reality. I think some people get caught up in the delusional thinking that breast cancer survivors are tough warrior types, or whatever concocted stereotypes that are created.
And you are like any of us "survivors"; you tried your best to live and continue trying to live. That's all any of us can ever do.
Two great paintings. "Unfinished Business." She embodies for me now, the integrity with which you show up for yourself and others. "Falling--" I feel the sense of not just falling but being pulled into the fall, being consumed by something out of one's control.
In Rick Rubin's book, The Creative Act, he talks about art that makes us feel. As a music producer he said he's not listening for the melody and harmonies of a song as much as he's looking for the feeling. Isn't that what we all want as artists? Art that evokes feeling, and that is a personal interpretation. Your artistic integrity ensures that.
As always, Beth, Sign me your friend and forever fan, ~Stephanie
Stephanie, I really love your interpretations of each painting. Thank you, as always, for your support and thought-provoking comments. I think it's so important as viewers that we emotionally interract with art of all types, whether it be writing, visual arts, dancing, and so on.
I love Rubin's book! Every word is incredible.
Yes, we want feeling. Without it, art lacks.
And congratulations on your 100th post!
Thank you so much!
Beth, first, great job on both paintings! I love the way the fabric turned out in both, the color and texture of them. And the hair, that was a great idea to add color to it.
But mostly I want to say how proud I am of you for your integrity and decision not to feed the media narrative that almost always misleads and misinforms. Why does the media make these mental shortcuts that allow us to compartmentalize things as not so bad, that interfere with deeper thought, just like a Hollywood movie where there is a happy ending and the hero is a glorified champion?
To me, it is just like the rest of what is happening in this country, the idiocracy that never dives beneath the surface, sparks no empathy or compassion, and no intellectual curiosity. And that feeds on itself, contributing to the erosion of understanding and discovery.
Before I get into an all-out rant here, good for you, saying no to the predictable spin that would have stripped your artistic gift down to a shred of what it means. I have so much more I want to say on that topic, but this is your Substack!
Thank you, Alene, for your kind words about my paintings. I now feel more reassured about the fabric.
And I appreciate your saying I had integrity with this decision. It was an easy decision: do I want people telling me how to portray my art and lose control of my series and do I want to mislead viewers with something so inauthentic? Nope.
Don't worry about ranting. You can rant away on my Substack any time! I value your thoughts and insights. You are right about the idiocracy taking place in this country. It seems all everyone ever wants from politicians and the media is a sound byte. And the U.S. has lost its empathy and compassion -- the very thing that's essential to humanity -- and we are failing as a society.
I’m hopeful for a big wake up call for the people who still have a conscience.
So am I.