From the heart- a 15 day journal exercise Part 14: Dying Contemplation

I am re-reading Stephen Levine‘s A Year to Live- how to live this year as if it were your last as a personal exercise schedule to take time to slow down and truly listen to my heart. Recall: Part 1: Catching Up with Your Life Part 2: Practice Dying Part 3: Preparing to Die Part 4: Dying from the Common…

“Never forget you are Daddy’s girl.” Drawn Together excerpt series Part 4

 Drawn Together excerpt series Part 4: My father always ended his letters to me with: Truth. Drawn Together- Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges With Art Roar’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world after a devastating stroke. YOU CAN BUY THE BOOK HERE: – NEXT STEP: Workbook/workshop series under development to…

Helena, the film. A script idea by my father. Drawn Together excerpt series Part 3

Drawn Together- Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges With Art Roar’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world after a devastating stroke. My father drew inspiration from many sources.  His newspapers, his readings, his scrapbooks.  Films like Hemsöborna. He not only drew, but wrote and wrote and wrote.  Drawn Together excerpt…

DOCUMENTARY: Drawn Together- Roar Thorsen’s Recovery through Art

Thanks to my backers on our Indiegogo campaign, Drawn Together, I was able to fund the making of the documentary short, Drawn Together: Roar Thorsen’s Recovery through Art, directed, edited and filmed by Julian Bowers.  And I am honored to have original music created by J. Lastoria and Julian Bowers, members of the band, Sleuth….

Gratitude and other scenes from the ER. #DrawnTogether

Thanks to our backers and all our supporters for helping our Indiegogo campaign, Drawn Together!   WE REACHED OUR GOAL! On Sunday, Dad got a chance to watch the documentary his grandson, Julian, made.  He was very moved. — Unfortunately, Dad’s health has taken a turn for the worse as he battles bladder cancer.  We…

A legacy for the next generation. #DrawnTogether #strokerecovery #artheals

Our book is about art and a father/daughter story, but it is also a legacy that we are creating for Dad’s grandchildren- Anna (27), Julian (24) and little Henrik, who turns 1 next week and whose middle name is “Roar.” WE NEED HELP TO BRING THE BOOK TO THE NEXT STAGE! Please consider supporting our project.  Much love,…

Scenes from Level 2 #DrawnTogether #strokerecovery #artheals

My father draws inspiration from books, television, newspapers, his life… including residential care. Excerpt from Drawn Together: Dad, how do you stay connected? ART.  A shot of whiskey.  A cup of black coffee.  My pens and my paper.  TV on in the background.  A view of Grouse Mountain.  That’s all I need.   I have…

Legacy. What does that mean to you? #journal #arttherapy

I put out the following question the other day: Q: What does the word “legacy” mean to you?  The responses were thoughtful and beautiful: Creating something that will outlive you. A permanent mark. A lasting impression. – Peter B. Creating something that can definitely withstand the test of time. – Evelyn W. Epic love. – Lindsey…

Sometimes you just have to laugh!. #drawntogether #artheals

As you know by now, Dad and I have been working on our book for several years and it looks like it will be released in November!  I had a great meeting with Influence Publishing on Monday night and excitedly ran to Dad on Tuesday to let him know the latest news! Dad, I have…

Dad, discovery, drawing and Disney. #drawntogether #artheals

My father, Roar Thorsen, on starting to draw: I have drawn all my life.   As a small boy in Kindergarten, in Sarpsborg, Norway, many stories were read to me.  As far as I remember, I entered Kindergarten at age 6.  Quite often the teacher was reading from typical kids’ books.   I started with pencil…

Creating, and collaborating… and other great C-words #artheals #drawntogether

Creating, collaborating, commenting, contributing, conversing, communicating, caregiving, community-building, committing, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, campaigning… some of the great C words. As many of you know, I have been working with my father, Roar Thorsen, on our book for several years now.   Joyously, we have shared a corner of the cafeteria at Lions Gate Hospital, building a collection of his work and…

Beauty in the struggle. Part 2. Dad keeping thoughts straight.

As I mentioned in Part 1, I notice Dad is struggling with keeping focused.  He finds it hard to keep his thoughts straight when he writes.  Today he struggled to make sense of and read from his notes he had written regarding his creative process.  He wanted me to share this with you in order to…

Beauty in the struggle. My Dad’s “chaos” gives insight.

Lately, I notice Dad is struggling with keeping focused.  He finds it hard to keep his thoughts straight when he writes.  And his current project illustrates the “chaos” he describes.  The drawings give me clues to his internal struggles and reminds me to keep things simple and routine for him. But he continues to LIVE FIERCELY…

Dad’s latest drawing: ART IS A SPECTATOR SPORT!

Dad keeps a piece of paper beside him to test his felt pens.  Instead of throwing out the paper, he was inspired to create a piece called “Roar Thorsen Art Studio.” He also uses his sticker technique to correct, what he calls- mistakes. Dad’s words: When you make a drawing, you check colors and pens on…

Love letter to Henrik, by Roar Thorsen

My dad has a new grandson (who also happens to be my nephew), Henrik Roar Thorsen.  I visited Dad today and found this drawing and post-it note in his sketchbook.  I love that Dad, who is confined to a wheelchair, draws himself as walking.