September 21, 2025 • 26 mins
We delve into the transformative intersection of art and healing, examining how creativity can serve as a powerful tool for emotional and spiritual healing. Dr. Vasu Tolia shares invaluable insights, emphasizing the importance of being a perpetual student and the wisdom passed down from parents about listening and observing. As we discuss the healing potential of art, we learn how it has helped our guest process decades of experience in medicine and personal loss. From navigating the challenges of being a woman in both medicine and art to the profound impact her work has had on others, this conversation uncovers the nuances of creativity as a bridge to peace and understanding. Join us as we celebrate the resilience of the human spirit through the lens of artistic expression.
The episode captures an enriching dialogue about the intersection of art and healing, where we both share our thoughts on how these realms influence and enrich each other. From the very beginning, I felt the warmth and enthusiasm as we discussed the role of listening—not just in medicine but in the artistic journey. Vasu beautifully articulates the wisdom passed down from their parents, emphasizing the importance of being a lifelong learner and an attentive listener. This serves as a foundation for our exploration of how these principles manifest in both medicine and art, revealing the shared values of compassion and observation that are crucial in both fields.
As the conversation unfolds, we delve into personal stories that highlight the healing potential of art. Dr. Tolia shares touching experiences of how their artworks have brought comfort to patients and caregivers alike, illustrating the profound impact art can have on emotional well-being. We reflect on the idea that creating art can be a therapeutic process, allowing artists to navigate their own emotions and experiences while simultaneously offering solace to others. This dual aspect of art—as a personal journey and a communal healing tool—forms the crux of our discussion.
Towards the end, we tackle the challenges faced by artists in today's world, particularly regarding the fear of artificial intelligence in the creative space. My guest’s pragmatic approach to this concern—embracing technology while maintaining authenticity—provides valuable insights for both budding and established artists. We wrap up our conversation by recognizing the legacy we aim to create, one that emphasizes the importance of using art as a means of healing and connection in a world that often feels fragmented. This episode stands as a testament to the belief that creativity is not just an outlet for expression, but a vital force for healing and understanding.
Takeaways:
- The importance of being a perpetual student and the value of lifelong learning is emphasized in both art and medicine.
- Listening beyond the obvious is crucial, whether treating patients or creating art, as it reveals deeper meanings.
- Art has the power to heal, providing peace and calmness not only to the creator but also to those who experience it.
- Navigating the art world requires perseverance and building connections, regardless of formal training or mentorship.
- Creativity can serve as a powerful healing force, helping individuals process emotions and experiences through various art forms.
- It's essential for artists to start with their feelings and honesty, rather than just striving for beauty in their work.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:51):
Well, welcome to the podcast.How you doing today?
I'm very well, thank you.
Good. So looking forward tohaving you on and talking about art
and healing and medicine andall those type of. That you're experts
on. So it should be a fun conversation.
Yes, I'm looking forward toit. Thank you for inviting me, Keith.
Oh, my pleasure. I'm lookingforward to it. So let me start with
(01:13):
my favorite guest question forall of my guests. What's the best
piece of. Piece of advice youever received?
One of the most powerfulpieces of advice I have received
was from my father. He told meI have to be a perpetual student,
never to stop learning. But itwas my mother who gave me the softer
(01:33):
wisdom that never stoppedlistening also, and in medicine,
it means listening beyond thesymptoms, like to the silence, to
the interaction between theparent and the patient and what isn't
said. And also I found it veryuseful in art. It is a similar kind
of listening to intuition,what you want to do. So that's how.
(01:58):
That's the best piece ofadvice I have received.
I love that. That is so cool.Amazing how parents give us little
nuggets that we may not thinkabout at the time. So. But when we
reflect back on what they.They share with us, it's like there's
like little pieces of gold there.
Yeah. Can I ask you a question?
(02:19):
Sure.
I'm curious to know, has apiece of advice ever echoed for you
across different parts of your life?
Yeah. You know, it's funnybecause I use this. This phrase a
lot, especially when I'm. WhenI'm working with difficult situations.
And the advice was, you can'tstop stupid. Which to me meant, you
(02:42):
know, you can give people goodadvice, but in the end, they gotta
make their own decisions. Andno matter how hard you try to guide
people, if they're insistenton making bad choices, they will.
So, you know, it relieved me alot in terms of working with people
and organizations where it'slike, you gotta make your own choices,
(03:03):
you gotta make the tough decisions.
Yeah, that's so true.
Yeah. It sounds kind of harsh,though. People go, oh, that sounds
so mean. I'm like, well, butyou could hit your head against the
wall, but it still hurts, you know?
Yeah.
I'm curious, sue, can you giveme some people in your life who served
as an inspiration or mentorfor you? I'm always curious. When
(03:25):
people like yourself have hada journey and a lot of influences,
who are some people that werereally important in. In your journey
of forming, Inform. Formingwho you are today?
Unfortunately, no, like, Ididn't have any formal mentors or
role models in either fieldthat I followed or emul wanted to
(03:47):
emulate. In medicine, I had tonurture myself through academic and
clinical challenges to becomewhat I became. And in art, I have
had teachers, but I have foundmy visual voice a few years later
through self experimentingduring Pandemic because that's when
(04:08):
I chose to liberate myselffrom representational art to abstract
and semi abstract art. But Iam inspired by artists like Georgia
O' Keeffe and Amrita Shergill.She's an Indian artist from 19th
century that they. Their worksare, you know, I admire and I look
(04:31):
at them and draw inspirationfrom them. But most personally, it
was my mother because shequietly became drawings, began drawing
later in her life. Andwatching her create gave me silent
permission to start over in mysecond act because she just dated
(04:51):
to pastime and grandchildrengrew up and they didn't want to sit
with her and play with heranymore and do their own things right,
which happens at, you know,different stages of life. So she
just, you know, did drawingand coloring. And I saw that it gave
her a lot of peace. At thatpoint. It didn't make sense to me
(05:12):
as to why she just sat andpassed her time like that. But now
it makes such a lot of sensethat I feel that I must have derived
some of my geometrics andcolor sense from her.
Oh, that's so neat. So tell usabout your journey. You kind of got
into a little bit of it,bridging the gap between medicine
(05:35):
and art. Kind of what led youon that pathway?
It was an accidental pathwayin the sense that when I decided
to retire, I felt a void. Ihad always been so busy carrying
so many roles in my life thatI was no longer wearing the white
(05:56):
coat. I was no longer thedivision head and things like that.
But the impulse to healremained in me. It never went away.
So picking up a brush startedas a pastime, but evolved into something
almost sacred for me, it'sbecome a passion like, you know,
(06:17):
art and medicine, they are sodifferent and not so different also.
Both of them require deepobservation, attention to nuance
and compassion. In medicine, Itreated the body. Now I feel in art
I engage the spirit. But bothare acts of transformation and healing.
(06:38):
To me, that's so neat. So youdescribe. You just kind of touched
on. You describe your art askind of a journey of the soul. What
does that look like for youpersonally as you begin kind of a
new piece of artwork?
You know, it begins inContemplation and silence. I rarely
(07:01):
start with a concept that'salready totally in my mind unless
I'm working on a theme. Likeif I'm working on a theme of flowers
or figures or women orsomething, I have to think along
those forms and shapes that Iwant to. But if I'm just starting
sitting, painting by myself,I. I let the color, mood, memory
(07:25):
guide me. Sometimes I'm movedby global issues like women's rights,
climate change, mental health,and all these thoughts and ideas,
they weave themselves ontocanvas through my brush and texture
and everything. And that's whyI call it a soul journey, because
it reveals parts of me. Ididn't consciously seek them, but
(07:48):
the act of painting was likemeditation, and it took me inward.
And what you see on the canvasis the outward manifestation of that.
I love that I'm a writer. Sofor me, writing is kind of my way
of expression. And for me,there are moments where I can't really
get the idea in my headclearly. And you kind of. We call
(08:14):
writer's block. Do you everhave painter's block where you go,
I just can't think ofsomething to put on the canvas? And
if you do, how do you breakthrough that blockage in your spirit
or your. Your creativity?
To be honest with you, Ihaven't had that chance because.
Or happened to me, because wetend to travel quite a bit too, so
(08:38):
I'm away from blocks of dying.So during those times, I'm naturally
not painting because I'm notan outdoor painter. I'm an indoor
painter. And I work withacrylics, which don't take well to
just open air, and they woulddry very quickly, and you wouldn't
be able to change things.
Right.
(08:58):
And I have never been anoutdoor painter. But as far as the
block is concerned, sometimesI do feel it, but it doesn't stop
me because I work on severalpaintings at one time. So if I'm
stuck on one, I'll just put itaside and work on another. But like
you, when I'm traveling orwhen I can't paint, I also write.
(09:23):
I write poetry and things likethat. So that also helps me shift
my mood and focus, you know,from painting to something different.
Do you.
Do you think that yourpaintings have a certain recurring
theme in them or is it kind ofeveryone has its own unique people
(09:45):
piece or. Or feeling to it?
I would say yes. I'mconsidered a colorist because I love
bright colors. That doesn'tmean that I don't work in pastels
and softer colors. And allalso. But I try to blend colors and
textures into developingwhatever I want to express, whether
(10:11):
it is a flower or a woman orjust a nature scene. Very often I
will personalize forenvironmental paintings, you know,
like, I'll personalize Earthas a woman, you know, or Seasons
as a woman, because then itkind of blends the humanity and nature
(10:31):
together, like, to blend thetwo forms. And I feel that I'm giving
more power to my own gender bydoing that and trying to make a statement
about how we should have equalrights and voices.
I love that. Have youdiscovered there's barriers for women
(10:55):
like yourself in the artindustry? I'm just curious, being
from India, have you runacross kind of a stigma or blockage
in terms of your ability tokind of flourish in that. In that
space?
Not in the art world as much,but in medicine, I did face it in
(11:20):
the beginning. Like, you know,you have to rise above everybody
and be the cream of the crop,you know, to make yourself known
and heard. And similarly inart world, because I haven't had
formal art training, so I domore intuitively. Like, I have had
no mentors who will hold myhand or recommend me, but I have
(11:44):
joined, you know, artsocieties and things like that and
develop some friendships who.Like, there are ladies who have been
painting for a long time, andthey do help me and suggest things
when I'm stuck. But overall,it's. It's a journey in which as
you make friendship anddevelop connections, you know, things
(12:07):
can happen. But above all, youjust have to do your work and persevere
and produce your best and beout there competing. Because if.
If I don't put my things in ashow, it doesn't have a chance to
get seen or be rewarded if thetutor thinks, you know, it's worth
something more than ordinary.So I. I think it's. It's a matter
(12:33):
of. Rather than letting anysuch stigma stop me or anyone else,
I would suggest that peopleshould just keep on doing what they
want to do and be good at itand wait for your turn.
Yeah, I love that You. Youmentioned that you believe that art,
like medicine, has the powerto heal. How have you seen that healing
(12:55):
manifest in your own life andthe life of people who've experienced
your work?
For myself, art helped meprocess decades of emotional weight
from medicine. You know,producing all those papers and mentoring,
teaching and taking care ofpatients had taken its toll. Although
(13:16):
I have not. I had not realizedit because I used to enjoy it. So
it was not a process ofburnout. It Was a process of stepping
back. But, you know, art doeshelp you heal. I lost my brother
recently, and I'm grieving,and I think that I want to create
(13:37):
paintings that will createcalm and serenity and peace within
myself and maybe those whoview my art. I'm thinking of making
paintings with Buddha, likecreating a Lotus and lion series,
you know, where lion is thevoice of Buddha teachings, and lotus
is the calmness that you knowyou have to rise above whatever grieves
(14:01):
you or bothers you and stillcontinue to shine in others. I feel
that the viewers tell me thatthey feel peaceful. One of my paintings
is in Henry Ford hospitalCardiology center, and the nurses
tell us, and it's calleddetermination. I have heard from
the nurses over there that ithelps them look at it and say, yes,
(14:25):
we might work. Must work onthis patient to get better, faster,
and things like that. A cancerpatient once told me that one of
my works brought her a lot ofcalm during chemotherapy. So these
are calm healings, but theyare profound in nature. So have you
(14:46):
had any of the guests talkabout creativity as a healing force?
No, I haven't, actually. Thisis. No. But I have had several people
who have used, like, poetry,other art forms to bring about healing
with either words or sometimesmusic. I have a person, I don't know
who's. Who does kind of whatyou do, but with music and creating
(15:10):
beautiful musical pieces tobring about that kind of communication
with. With God and with. Withour soul.
Yeah, no, that's so true.Because, you know, visual art is
not the only form of art thatcan heal. There are so many forms
of artworks, you know, thatcan cause that same thing. So I think
(15:31):
we just have to be open to allthose forms.
Yeah, that is so true. Is. Iknow for me, I have, like, my favorite
piece of writing. Is there afavorite piece of artwork that is
one of those that you. This,even though it may not be. It may
not be popular in terms ofmonetary, but just one that you like.
This is one I'm really, reallyone of my favorite or several of
(15:54):
my favorites, actually.
I could name a few. Okay, I'llstart with my painting during COVID
time called the world unitedin this, during the Pandemic. How,
you know, every country in theworld was struggling to fight the
virus and how to deal with it,the morbidity and mortality. So this
(16:18):
painting has. I have a handwhich is grabbing the virus, but
still the virus is escaping inthe atmosphere and becomes faded.
So what I did is in this hand,I put stamps of the world, suggesting
that the whole world is tryingto fight the virus. And that is a
piece that was considered top20 in the nation by Washington Post.
(16:40):
And later CDC solicited thatartwork to put on the COVID of their
journal. So I think that's.That has meant a lot to me that medicine
and art came together for meat that point. Another one is a portrait
of my husband that I paintedand I called it A Penny for Them
(17:02):
because it shows his face andcaptured quiet introspection and
love. Like he has a subtlesmile and, you know, is thinking
deeply. Then there is anotherone called Waves of Renewal, which
is currently in the solo showthat's Hanging, which I painted with
my grandson, that he did thebackground and I did the foreground.
(17:24):
So some of these have veryspecial meanings for me. They are
just not paintings, but theyare like memory, connection and emotional
markers in my life.
That's so special. So I'mcurious, you say you're working on
several paintings, usually atthe same time. So what's the next
series of things that you'regoing to have that's coming out that
(17:45):
we'll be able to see?
My current solo show is calledFloral Whispers and I have 49 paintings
in them and it's showing atthe Flagstar Theater, Strand gallery
in Pontiac, Michigan untilSeptember 13th. After that, I'm thinking
(18:06):
of or actually right now I'mthinking of beginning this series
on Buddha paintings Imentioned, like the lion and the
Lotus series in which I willshow Buddha in. So I may just do
a few of them, but otherwise Ithink I will just go back to nature
because I find nature veryhealing too. So I may just create
(18:27):
some abstract scenes andcolors and things like that. I also
work in, you know, the groups,so I am part of group shows and recently
had some digital worksaccepted in for Art Basel in the
Creativity for Future. And Ialso create the downloadable booklets,
(18:49):
you know, and challenges forart exercises and healing through
art, like giving beginningguidance some ideas to people how
to start doing this. And Iwork with neuro arts groups to bring
creativity into healthcaresettings. So I feel I have a lot
(19:10):
to give and am looking forwardto doing many of these projects.
That's a great segue because Iwas going to ask you two things,
actually. One thing I'verecently heard, especially for artists
who show their works a lot,have you run across the fear or even
the concern that AI? BecauseI've heard people say this, they're
(19:34):
afraid to post their artonline because they're afraid AI
will capture what they do andrecreate it and kind of steal some
of the ideas that they put outthere for the world to enjoy.
You know, I don't actuallyfear that because I can do so many
things, even when withoutlooking at the art that is already
(19:55):
existing. I mean, it's such apowerful tool, and it has to be used
very judiciously. You know,like, you don't want AI to. You don't
want to produce a work with AIand say it's your own.
Right.
So that kind of honesty has tocome. But when I did do some of these
(20:17):
digital pieces for Art Basel,I did use AI as part of it, and it
was a challenge to learn andall. But then I did say that this
was done with the help of A.I.you know, I didn't own complete ownership.
It was my idea, but I workedwith AI to create it.
(20:38):
Right.
So. And, you know, it is hereto stay, and I think we just have
to use it properly andeffectively so that we can get the
most out of it.
Good point. If you were tryingto advise someone who was just getting
into art, young art studentwho kind of aspires to kind of do
(21:00):
what you're doing, or whatadvice do you have for young artists?
I'm taking this in perspectiveto see somebody. Young artists. So
I suppose that they have hadsome formal background, art education
(21:21):
or. You mean children who are starting?
Yeah, just people startingout. Young artists who maybe have
had classes, but they'retrying to figure out, how do I break
into the art world and. Andget my work seen and get a good viewing
from my work.
It's a process as to why youare starting just because you like
(21:44):
it, or are you trying toprocess grieving, or are you angry
or anxious? And I would letthat emotion lead the way. If it's
just for learning, because youwant to produce something beautiful
or meaningful or want to sendmessage, you have to start with what
that feeling is, you know, andprocess that and use whatever you
(22:09):
have, pen, brush, clay, music,whatever you want to do, fiber, fabric,
anything. Because it's. Ifit's a message about just making
beautiful stuff, you will makewhat you want to. But if it's about
healing and connection, youdon't require talent. You only require
(22:32):
honesty. Because you don'twant to create something just beautiful.
You just want to express whatyou are trying to process. So aim
for reality of what you wantto project, not just to create some
pretty stuff is what I would suggest.
Good point. Good point. I loveto ask my guests this question, as
(22:53):
you think about your legacy.What is the legacy you want to leave
behind? Especially think aboutinspiring future generations of artists.
I would say it's never toolate to begin again. That healing
comes in many forms, that myart and medicine don't live in two
(23:16):
separate worlds. They dancetogether in the realm of hope. I
already have a lot of legacyin medicine and hopefully with these
kinds of booklets and themessages with NeuroArts projects
that I'm doing, I'm hopingthat I can create a bigger mark and
(23:37):
have people remember me fortrying to do this for everybody.
Not just patience, but it isalso a hallmark of creativity. So
I think if we embrace some ofthese processes in our everyday life,
maybe the stress and burnoutwill be a lot less. Because if you're
(23:59):
trying to process that stressand burnout by engaging in these
kinds of activities, it's,it's going to help you deal with
the obstacles or whateversetbacks one is having in life a
lot better. And that way wewould have less violence and more
(24:21):
peace in this world.
Which should be nice. Wedefinitely want more of that.
Yes, yes.
Where can people find your artand connect with you on social media?
I am available through mywebsite at any time www.wasutolia.art
(24:41):
and I'm also on Instagram,Facebook and LinkedIn with my short
name Vasutolia and full nameVasundhara Tolia. And I hope you'll
be able to give some of theselinks in your notes. And I do have
a downloadable magnet for yourlisteners. You know, they can start
(25:07):
a five day project of createbuilding bridges in different ways
by creating, practicing someartworks and they can get it by signing
up at the link I have providedand hopefully they'll like it and
come back for more.
Well, thank you so much.That's a great gift for my audience.
(25:27):
I'll make sure I promote thatand put that link below so people
can follow you. Thank you forwhat you do. I think it's so critical
for us to find ways to bringhealing to a hurting world. And that's
one of my goals with thepodcast that I do is, is to bring
resources and gifts to theaudience so that their lives can
be uplifted and encouraged andfruitful because God made them to
(25:51):
accomplish so much. And so Ilove to have guests on who have shared
that same vision for makingthe world a much better and more
productive place. So thank youfor what you do and for the artwork
you provide to cheer people upwho are dealing with cancer or just
give them a smile on a sadday, but to bring about the opportunity
(26:11):
for the art to really restoretheir souls.
Yeah. Thank you so much forhaving me. It was my honor to be
on your show.
Well, thank you.
Well, welcome to the podcast.How you doing today?
I'm very well, thank you.
Good. So looking forward tohaving you on and talking about art
and healing and medicine andall those type of. That you're experts
on. So it should be a fun conversation.
Yes, I'm looking forward toit. Thank you for inviting me, Keith.
Oh, my pleasure. I'm lookingforward to it. So let me start with
(01:13):
my favorite guest question forall of my guests. What's the best
piece of. Piece of advice youever received?
One of the most powerfulpieces of advice I have received
was from my father. He told meI have to be a perpetual student,
never to stop learning. But itwas my mother who gave me the softer
(01:33):
wisdom that never stoppedlistening also, and in medicine,
it means listening beyond thesymptoms, like to the silence, to
the interaction between theparent and the patient and what isn't
said. And also I found it veryuseful in art. It is a similar kind
of listening to intuition,what you want to do. So that's how.
(01:58):
That's the best piece ofadvice I have received.
I love that. That is so cool.Amazing how parents give us little
nuggets that we may not thinkabout at the time. So. But when we
reflect back on what they.They share with us, it's like there's
like little pieces of gold there.
Yeah. Can I ask you a question?
(02:19):
Sure.
I'm curious to know, has apiece of advice ever echoed for you
across different parts of your life?
Yeah. You know, it's funnybecause I use this. This phrase a
lot, especially when I'm. WhenI'm working with difficult situations.
And the advice was, you can'tstop stupid. Which to me meant, you
(02:42):
know, you can give people goodadvice, but in the end, they gotta
make their own decisions. Andno matter how hard you try to guide
people, if they're insistenton making bad choices, they will.
So, you know, it relieved me alot in terms of working with people
and organizations where it'slike, you gotta make your own choices,
(03:03):
you gotta make the tough decisions.
Yeah, that's so true.
Yeah. It sounds kind of harsh,though. People go, oh, that sounds
so mean. I'm like, well, butyou could hit your head against the
wall, but it still hurts, you know?
Yeah.
I'm curious, sue, can you giveme some people in your life who served
as an inspiration or mentorfor you? I'm always curious. When
(03:25):
people like yourself have hada journey and a lot of influences,
who are some people that werereally important in. In your journey
of forming, Inform. Formingwho you are today?
Unfortunately, no, like, Ididn't have any formal mentors or
role models in either fieldthat I followed or emul wanted to
(03:47):
emulate. In medicine, I had tonurture myself through academic and
clinical challenges to becomewhat I became. And in art, I have
had teachers, but I have foundmy visual voice a few years later
through self experimentingduring Pandemic because that's when
(04:08):
I chose to liberate myselffrom representational art to abstract
and semi abstract art. But Iam inspired by artists like Georgia
O' Keeffe and Amrita Shergill.She's an Indian artist from 19th
century that they. Their worksare, you know, I admire and I look
(04:31):
at them and draw inspirationfrom them. But most personally, it
was my mother because shequietly became drawings, began drawing
later in her life. Andwatching her create gave me silent
permission to start over in mysecond act because she just dated
(04:51):
to pastime and grandchildrengrew up and they didn't want to sit
with her and play with heranymore and do their own things right,
which happens at, you know,different stages of life. So she
just, you know, did drawingand coloring. And I saw that it gave
her a lot of peace. At thatpoint. It didn't make sense to me
(05:12):
as to why she just sat andpassed her time like that. But now
it makes such a lot of sensethat I feel that I must have derived
some of my geometrics andcolor sense from her.
Oh, that's so neat. So tell usabout your journey. You kind of got
into a little bit of it,bridging the gap between medicine
(05:35):
and art. Kind of what led youon that pathway?
It was an accidental pathwayin the sense that when I decided
to retire, I felt a void. Ihad always been so busy carrying
so many roles in my life thatI was no longer wearing the white
(05:56):
coat. I was no longer thedivision head and things like that.
But the impulse to healremained in me. It never went away.
So picking up a brush startedas a pastime, but evolved into something
almost sacred for me, it'sbecome a passion like, you know,
(06:17):
art and medicine, they are sodifferent and not so different also.
Both of them require deepobservation, attention to nuance
and compassion. In medicine, Itreated the body. Now I feel in art
I engage the spirit. But bothare acts of transformation and healing.
(06:38):
To me, that's so neat. So youdescribe. You just kind of touched
on. You describe your art askind of a journey of the soul. What
does that look like for youpersonally as you begin kind of a
new piece of artwork?
You know, it begins inContemplation and silence. I rarely
(07:01):
start with a concept that'salready totally in my mind unless
I'm working on a theme. Likeif I'm working on a theme of flowers
or figures or women orsomething, I have to think along
those forms and shapes that Iwant to. But if I'm just starting
sitting, painting by myself,I. I let the color, mood, memory
(07:25):
guide me. Sometimes I'm movedby global issues like women's rights,
climate change, mental health,and all these thoughts and ideas,
they weave themselves ontocanvas through my brush and texture
and everything. And that's whyI call it a soul journey, because
it reveals parts of me. Ididn't consciously seek them, but
(07:48):
the act of painting was likemeditation, and it took me inward.
And what you see on the canvasis the outward manifestation of that.
I love that I'm a writer. Sofor me, writing is kind of my way
of expression. And for me,there are moments where I can't really
get the idea in my headclearly. And you kind of. We call
(08:14):
writer's block. Do you everhave painter's block where you go,
I just can't think ofsomething to put on the canvas? And
if you do, how do you breakthrough that blockage in your spirit
or your. Your creativity?
To be honest with you, Ihaven't had that chance because.
Or happened to me, because wetend to travel quite a bit too, so
(08:38):
I'm away from blocks of dying.So during those times, I'm naturally
not painting because I'm notan outdoor painter. I'm an indoor
painter. And I work withacrylics, which don't take well to
just open air, and they woulddry very quickly, and you wouldn't
be able to change things.
Right.
(08:58):
And I have never been anoutdoor painter. But as far as the
block is concerned, sometimesI do feel it, but it doesn't stop
me because I work on severalpaintings at one time. So if I'm
stuck on one, I'll just put itaside and work on another. But like
you, when I'm traveling orwhen I can't paint, I also write.
(09:23):
I write poetry and things likethat. So that also helps me shift
my mood and focus, you know,from painting to something different.
Do you.
Do you think that yourpaintings have a certain recurring
theme in them or is it kind ofeveryone has its own unique people
(09:45):
piece or. Or feeling to it?
I would say yes. I'mconsidered a colorist because I love
bright colors. That doesn'tmean that I don't work in pastels
and softer colors. And allalso. But I try to blend colors and
textures into developingwhatever I want to express, whether
(10:11):
it is a flower or a woman orjust a nature scene. Very often I
will personalize forenvironmental paintings, you know,
like, I'll personalize Earthas a woman, you know, or Seasons
as a woman, because then itkind of blends the humanity and nature
(10:31):
together, like, to blend thetwo forms. And I feel that I'm giving
more power to my own gender bydoing that and trying to make a statement
about how we should have equalrights and voices.
I love that. Have youdiscovered there's barriers for women
(10:55):
like yourself in the artindustry? I'm just curious, being
from India, have you runacross kind of a stigma or blockage
in terms of your ability tokind of flourish in that. In that
space?
Not in the art world as much,but in medicine, I did face it in
(11:20):
the beginning. Like, you know,you have to rise above everybody
and be the cream of the crop,you know, to make yourself known
and heard. And similarly inart world, because I haven't had
formal art training, so I domore intuitively. Like, I have had
no mentors who will hold myhand or recommend me, but I have
(11:44):
joined, you know, artsocieties and things like that and
develop some friendships who.Like, there are ladies who have been
painting for a long time, andthey do help me and suggest things
when I'm stuck. But overall,it's. It's a journey in which as
you make friendship anddevelop connections, you know, things
(12:07):
can happen. But above all, youjust have to do your work and persevere
and produce your best and beout there competing. Because if.
If I don't put my things in ashow, it doesn't have a chance to
get seen or be rewarded if thetutor thinks, you know, it's worth
something more than ordinary.So I. I think it's. It's a matter
(12:33):
of. Rather than letting anysuch stigma stop me or anyone else,
I would suggest that peopleshould just keep on doing what they
want to do and be good at itand wait for your turn.
Yeah, I love that You. Youmentioned that you believe that art,
like medicine, has the powerto heal. How have you seen that healing
(12:55):
manifest in your own life andthe life of people who've experienced
your work?
For myself, art helped meprocess decades of emotional weight
from medicine. You know,producing all those papers and mentoring,
teaching and taking care ofpatients had taken its toll. Although
(13:16):
I have not. I had not realizedit because I used to enjoy it. So
it was not a process ofburnout. It Was a process of stepping
back. But, you know, art doeshelp you heal. I lost my brother
recently, and I'm grieving,and I think that I want to create
(13:37):
paintings that will createcalm and serenity and peace within
myself and maybe those whoview my art. I'm thinking of making
paintings with Buddha, likecreating a Lotus and lion series,
you know, where lion is thevoice of Buddha teachings, and lotus
is the calmness that you knowyou have to rise above whatever grieves
(14:01):
you or bothers you and stillcontinue to shine in others. I feel
that the viewers tell me thatthey feel peaceful. One of my paintings
is in Henry Ford hospitalCardiology center, and the nurses
tell us, and it's calleddetermination. I have heard from
the nurses over there that ithelps them look at it and say, yes,
(14:25):
we might work. Must work onthis patient to get better, faster,
and things like that. A cancerpatient once told me that one of
my works brought her a lot ofcalm during chemotherapy. So these
are calm healings, but theyare profound in nature. So have you
(14:46):
had any of the guests talkabout creativity as a healing force?
No, I haven't, actually. Thisis. No. But I have had several people
who have used, like, poetry,other art forms to bring about healing
with either words or sometimesmusic. I have a person, I don't know
who's. Who does kind of whatyou do, but with music and creating
(15:10):
beautiful musical pieces tobring about that kind of communication
with. With God and with. Withour soul.
Yeah, no, that's so true.Because, you know, visual art is
not the only form of art thatcan heal. There are so many forms
of artworks, you know, thatcan cause that same thing. So I think
(15:31):
we just have to be open to allthose forms.
Yeah, that is so true. Is. Iknow for me, I have, like, my favorite
piece of writing. Is there afavorite piece of artwork that is
one of those that you. This,even though it may not be. It may
not be popular in terms ofmonetary, but just one that you like.
This is one I'm really, reallyone of my favorite or several of
(15:54):
my favorites, actually.
I could name a few. Okay, I'llstart with my painting during COVID
time called the world unitedin this, during the Pandemic. How,
you know, every country in theworld was struggling to fight the
virus and how to deal with it,the morbidity and mortality. So this
(16:18):
painting has. I have a handwhich is grabbing the virus, but
still the virus is escaping inthe atmosphere and becomes faded.
So what I did is in this hand,I put stamps of the world, suggesting
that the whole world is tryingto fight the virus. And that is a
piece that was considered top20 in the nation by Washington Post.
(16:40):
And later CDC solicited thatartwork to put on the COVID of their
journal. So I think that's.That has meant a lot to me that medicine
and art came together for meat that point. Another one is a portrait
of my husband that I paintedand I called it A Penny for Them
(17:02):
because it shows his face andcaptured quiet introspection and
love. Like he has a subtlesmile and, you know, is thinking
deeply. Then there is anotherone called Waves of Renewal, which
is currently in the solo showthat's Hanging, which I painted with
my grandson, that he did thebackground and I did the foreground.
(17:24):
So some of these have veryspecial meanings for me. They are
just not paintings, but theyare like memory, connection and emotional
markers in my life.
That's so special. So I'mcurious, you say you're working on
several paintings, usually atthe same time. So what's the next
series of things that you'regoing to have that's coming out that
(17:45):
we'll be able to see?
My current solo show is calledFloral Whispers and I have 49 paintings
in them and it's showing atthe Flagstar Theater, Strand gallery
in Pontiac, Michigan untilSeptember 13th. After that, I'm thinking
(18:06):
of or actually right now I'mthinking of beginning this series
on Buddha paintings Imentioned, like the lion and the
Lotus series in which I willshow Buddha in. So I may just do
a few of them, but otherwise Ithink I will just go back to nature
because I find nature veryhealing too. So I may just create
(18:27):
some abstract scenes andcolors and things like that. I also
work in, you know, the groups,so I am part of group shows and recently
had some digital worksaccepted in for Art Basel in the
Creativity for Future. And Ialso create the downloadable booklets,
(18:49):
you know, and challenges forart exercises and healing through
art, like giving beginningguidance some ideas to people how
to start doing this. And Iwork with neuro arts groups to bring
creativity into healthcaresettings. So I feel I have a lot
(19:10):
to give and am looking forwardto doing many of these projects.
That's a great segue because Iwas going to ask you two things,
actually. One thing I'verecently heard, especially for artists
who show their works a lot,have you run across the fear or even
the concern that AI? BecauseI've heard people say this, they're
(19:34):
afraid to post their artonline because they're afraid AI
will capture what they do andrecreate it and kind of steal some
of the ideas that they put outthere for the world to enjoy.
You know, I don't actuallyfear that because I can do so many
things, even when withoutlooking at the art that is already
(19:55):
existing. I mean, it's such apowerful tool, and it has to be used
very judiciously. You know,like, you don't want AI to. You don't
want to produce a work with AIand say it's your own.
Right.
So that kind of honesty has tocome. But when I did do some of these
(20:17):
digital pieces for Art Basel,I did use AI as part of it, and it
was a challenge to learn andall. But then I did say that this
was done with the help of A.I.you know, I didn't own complete ownership.
It was my idea, but I workedwith AI to create it.
(20:38):
Right.
So. And, you know, it is hereto stay, and I think we just have
to use it properly andeffectively so that we can get the
most out of it.
Good point. If you were tryingto advise someone who was just getting
into art, young art studentwho kind of aspires to kind of do
(21:00):
what you're doing, or whatadvice do you have for young artists?
I'm taking this in perspectiveto see somebody. Young artists. So
I suppose that they have hadsome formal background, art education
(21:21):
or. You mean children who are starting?
Yeah, just people startingout. Young artists who maybe have
had classes, but they'retrying to figure out, how do I break
into the art world and. Andget my work seen and get a good viewing
from my work.
It's a process as to why youare starting just because you like
(21:44):
it, or are you trying toprocess grieving, or are you angry
or anxious? And I would letthat emotion lead the way. If it's
just for learning, because youwant to produce something beautiful
or meaningful or want to sendmessage, you have to start with what
that feeling is, you know, andprocess that and use whatever you
(22:09):
have, pen, brush, clay, music,whatever you want to do, fiber, fabric,
anything. Because it's. Ifit's a message about just making
beautiful stuff, you will makewhat you want to. But if it's about
healing and connection, youdon't require talent. You only require
(22:32):
honesty. Because you don'twant to create something just beautiful.
You just want to express whatyou are trying to process. So aim
for reality of what you wantto project, not just to create some
pretty stuff is what I would suggest.
Good point. Good point. I loveto ask my guests this question, as
(22:53):
you think about your legacy.What is the legacy you want to leave
behind? Especially think aboutinspiring future generations of artists.
I would say it's never toolate to begin again. That healing
comes in many forms, that myart and medicine don't live in two
(23:16):
separate worlds. They dancetogether in the realm of hope. I
already have a lot of legacyin medicine and hopefully with these
kinds of booklets and themessages with NeuroArts projects
that I'm doing, I'm hopingthat I can create a bigger mark and
(23:37):
have people remember me fortrying to do this for everybody.
Not just patience, but it isalso a hallmark of creativity. So
I think if we embrace some ofthese processes in our everyday life,
maybe the stress and burnoutwill be a lot less. Because if you're
(23:59):
trying to process that stressand burnout by engaging in these
kinds of activities, it's,it's going to help you deal with
the obstacles or whateversetbacks one is having in life a
lot better. And that way wewould have less violence and more
(24:21):
peace in this world.
Which should be nice. Wedefinitely want more of that.
Yes, yes.
Where can people find your artand connect with you on social media?
I am available through mywebsite at any time www.wasutolia.art
(24:41):
and I'm also on Instagram,Facebook and LinkedIn with my short
name Vasutolia and full nameVasundhara Tolia. And I hope you'll
be able to give some of theselinks in your notes. And I do have
a downloadable magnet for yourlisteners. You know, they can start
(25:07):
a five day project of createbuilding bridges in different ways
by creating, practicing someartworks and they can get it by signing
up at the link I have providedand hopefully they'll like it and
come back for more.
Well, thank you so much.That's a great gift for my audience.
(25:27):
I'll make sure I promote thatand put that link below so people
can follow you. Thank you forwhat you do. I think it's so critical
for us to find ways to bringhealing to a hurting world. And that's
one of my goals with thepodcast that I do is, is to bring
resources and gifts to theaudience so that their lives can
be uplifted and encouraged andfruitful because God made them to
(25:51):
accomplish so much. And so Ilove to have guests on who have shared
that same vision for makingthe world a much better and more
productive place. So thank youfor what you do and for the artwork
you provide to cheer people upwho are dealing with cancer or just
give them a smile on a sadday, but to bring about the opportunity
(26:11):
for the art to really restoretheir souls.
Yeah. Thank you so much forhaving me. It was my honor to be
on your show.
Well, thank you.
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