flowers for amy

Flowers for Amy, acrylic on canvas, 2013,  painted in memory of Amy Elizabeth Howell Wagner. I created this portrait in loving memory of Amy Wagner, a beautiful artist, wife of James Wagner, mother of two young boys, and daughter-in law of dear friends, Frank and Karen Wagner. Amy was struck down in her early 30's with cancer that left her a quadraplegic and unable to breathe unassisted, when a tumor in her neck burst close to her spine in 2009 when she was walking her two adolescent boys to school. Through multiple chemotherapy and radiation treatments that tried, in vain, to stop the cancer cells that multiplied in her spine, Amy remained brave, optimistic, and an inspiration to friends and family. She taught herself to paint again with a mouthstick, and throughout her ordeal created new beautiful works of art. Amy passed away in May, 2013, when the tumors that could not be contained eventually made their way to her brain. This portrait was donated to Amy's surviving family, her husband, James Wagner and their two young boys. She is sorely missed.

For more information about Amy and links to a beautiful vimeo video that features the art that Amy created in her final years, please see my blog post article.