Healing Art: Three Months of Growth, Strength, and Creativity

Three months ago, in January 2025, we launched the Healing Art project at the Mill Courtland Community Center in Kitchener. What started as a small initiative with twelve Ukrainian women seeking solace through creativity has now grown into a vibrant group of more than twenty people. Every session reaffirms the power of art as a source of healing, support, and self-expression.

Our journey has been wonderful. In previous articles, we shared how this project began (Healing Through Art: Ukrainian Women Rebuilding Their Lives Through Creativity) and how it evolved into a space for transformation (The Healing Art Project for Ukrainian Women: Live, Paint, Revive). Now, three months in, we continue to expand our horizons and invite inspiring artists to enrich our workshops.

Art as a Path to Healing

Each meeting brings new inspiration, new connections, and a renewed sense of belonging. Our participants have formed a close-knit community where they feel seen, heard, and supported. Creativity has become a bridge to overcoming emotional challenges, a way to reconnect with oneself after the trauma of displacement.

To enhance this experience, we regularly invite guest artists to guide our participants through different artistic techniques and healing approaches. In March, we had the privilege of hosting Viktoriia Makarova, a talented Ukrainian painter whose story and artistic journey deeply resonated with our group.

Meet Viktoriia Makarova: A Life Dedicated to Art

"My name is Viktoriia, and I am an artist with 14 years of experience. My creative journey has been filled with experiments, growth, and diversity. From the very beginning, I knew that I didn’t want to limit myself to a single artistic style; instead, I continually explore new ways to express myself.

My artistic path started with classical techniques—drawing, painting, composition, and colour studies. These fundamentals became the foundation upon which I later built my unique artistic voice. Over the years, I have worked with realism, abstraction, impressionism, modernism, and postmodernism, each serving as a language through which I tell different stories.

Each style I explore is a reflection of my inner emotions, influenced by music, literature, travel, and even fleeting moods. Art, for me, is a dialogue with the world and with myself, and the diversity of styles allows me to communicate in many different 'languages.'

This journey has taught me flexibility and courage. Working across various styles, I’ve come to understand that art is not just about technique—it’s about seeing and feeling on a deeper level. Every new style challenges me, sometimes even revealing new facets of myself. My ultimate goal is to inspire others and evoke emotions through my work, allowing viewers to find their meaning and connection within my art."

To explore Viktoriia’s work, you may visit her pages on Instagram: @veveyaart

A Volunteer’s Perspective: Testimonial from Ellen

“I was glad to be invited to attend the Healing Through Art Workshop as a volunteer buddy. Meeting with and learning from Viktoriia Makarova has been lovely. Viktoriia is a dynamic, talented and generous artist—she gifted me a beautifully hand-painted farm scene magnet. I was happy to be a part of the women’s art night. It was so inspiring to see Viktoriia in her element. Seeing her facilitate the workshop and foster creativity was inspiring.

Artistic expression allows for healing through creative language. Painting is an incredible outlet, which creates a feeling of being in the moment and helps foster connection through the universal language of art. I was happy to hear laughter and conversation throughout the workshop and witness beauty and freedom of expression.

The workshop was so lovely. It was great to meet Inna Biliaieva, who has done so much to support her community. The Ukrainian women I met were very kind to share their space, and so patient and generous to translate for me.”

Looking Ahead

The Healing Art project is a testament to the strength and resilience of Ukrainian women rebuilding their lives. We grow, we heal, we create. With every session, we embrace the transformative power of art and the unwavering support of our community.

We look forward to continuing this journey, welcoming more participants, and inviting more artists to contribute their unique perspectives. Together, we are not just painting—we are healing, dreaming, and reclaiming our narratives.