May is a Month of Goodbyes
My Art Studio, Bridgeport, Chicago
May came to a close with a lot of sadness, but still, some comfort. I said goodbye to our apartment of 4 years, I said goodbye to my art studio, while holding on tightly to all the memories that we made there together. Before my love and life partner Jeff passed away, I always thought of change as a good thing, I embraced it. I looked it in the eye and said, “come and get me.”. With my Jeffrey gone so quickly and so tragically, and change being forced on me instead of sought out, everything somehow feels wrong and unwelcome. Even changes that are good for me are sad.
Comfort comes from the new home that we were able to buy, with a new art studio and a new, beautiful space. I told Jeff that his spirit is coming with me whether he wants to or not. I think of him as my light now, guiding me, helping me find my way again, and trying to find some sort of purpose in being in this world without him.
A friend recently told me that there will come a time when you think of Jeff and you will smile instead of cry. Of course there will always be grief, there will always be sadness, but there will also be joy again. Hope doesn’t come easy these days, but I suppose I have to go on and see what lies ahead.
One of the few things that is helping me keep my head above water is creating. Escaping into a beautiful painting for a few hours helps me breathe a bit easier. I’m not sure if it is healing the sadness, but it is calming my mind and my anxiety; I suppose in a way that is a step towards healing. And though my work has always been about helping others feel safe and peaceful, now more than ever, having experienced such a great loss, my artwork has guided me deeper onto this artistic path.
With much love, I hope to continue to share my work with you, to connect with you, to help you find your own place of tranquility and healing.
If you are experiencing grief, my aunt told me about a podcast “All There Is with Anderson Cooper”. I have yet to listen to it, but I love Anderson Cooper and will be giving it a try this month.
Link: Facing Our Grief - All There Is with Anderson Cooper - Podcast on CNN Audio
To purchase original paintings and fine art prints, please visit: Shop Original Paintings and Fine Art Prints (Seascapes, Landscapes, Birds) Daniela Milinkovich — MY ARTIST SOUL
THIS MONTH: Join me at the Hinsdale Fine Arts Fest on June 7th-8th: Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival 2025, an Art Show in Hinsdale, Illinois