Susan Masley Thomas – Artist Statement I began creating abstract paintings following a life-changing accident in 2021. One moment, I was skiing across pure white snow beneath a cobalt blue sky. The next, everything went dark. An out-of-control snowboarder collided with me, leading to two surgeries and a long recovery that included months of concussion therapy. Emerging from that experience, I felt profound relief to be alive—an awakening that transformed how I perceive the world. Breathing again after moments of silence felt like rediscovering joy itself. To see colors, to be conscious, was a gift. By 2023, I had sold my ski gear and embraced a new chapter: painting. I began sharing my work on social media, and the response was unexpectedly powerful. An art history professor reached out, and collectors began to comment on the optimism they saw in my art. Within a few months, I had painted 30 pieces. At my first art sale, invited by a fellow artist, I sold twelve paintings in one morning. I watched faces light up as people connected with my work—moments so luminous, I began capturing them in photographs: smiling buyers holding my art. Today, I continue painting, sharing my pieces online, and donating artwork to nonprofits and other meaningful causes. Art has become not just a personal renewal, but a way to spread light and gratitude to others.