Back
to the canvas
Hollinghead
continues to paint, even after car accident in May
By Justin
Schuver (Contact)
| Andalusia Star-News
Published
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Photo
by Justin Schuver
Hollinghead’s
painting “Rainy Day Comfort”is shown with
some of her artistic tools. Hollinghead said the painting
was inspired by a rainy day recently.
It’s
been about three months since Opp artist Toby Hollinghead was
involved in a near-fatal car crash, but she’s not letting
her recovery slow her down from a love of painting.
Hollinghead
continues to create her unique artistic expressions, and even
plans to make a public appearance at a ladies conference later
this month.
“I’ve
been slowly able to get back into painting, and I’ll be
doing a ladies conference in Opp at the Opine Assembly of God
church on Aug. 28. I’m going to be doing an art presentation,
and also give a talk there.”
Currently,
Hollinghead does not have the full ability to walk and has to
use a wheelchair. She is also no longer able to work at her studio,
but has instead set up an easel and work station in her living
room, where she continues to practice her craft.
“My
husband (Wayne) has set my easel up in the living room and helped
bring my paints into the house,” she said. “He sometimes
has to help me get things together. It probably takes about three
times as long to do a painting now as when I was painting before
the crash, but I’m thankful that I can still do it at all.”
About
a month following the accident, Hollinghead painted a picture
of a woman hugging an angel, titling it: “Safe in the Arms
of the Lord.” She has produced several pieces since then,
including a piece called “Under the Altar and Above the
Clouds” and a painting of flowers outside during a rainy
day, titled “Rainy Day Comfort.”
“It
was raining that day and I was inspired to do the painting,” she
said. “Sometimes my best ideas come from a sudden thought
like that.”
One
common theme in Hollinghead’s art is spirituality, and
she believes it was that same spirituality that helped her get
through the hard times immediately following the accident.
“I
know 110 percent that it was God who pulled me through,” she
said.
Hollinghead
admitted that sometimes the mental anguish was just as strong
as any physical pain.
“I
had never been in any trauma like this before,” she said. “You
deal with a lot in your mind after something like this. There
were a lot of sleepless nights, and some things that your mind
can’t quite wrap around. You go through flashbacks sometimes — the
memories, the sounds, the lights. It’s still going to take
a while to heal from that.”
As
far as physical healing goes, Hollinghead said she is doing well.
She no longer needs to wear braces on her arms, and is occasionally
able to get out of her wheelchair and use a walker.
“I
hope to get back to 100 percent, but even if I limp, I’ll
still praise the Lord,” she said. “I’m still
seeing a few doctors and getting X-rays, and slowly regaining
my balance and taking a few steps.”
Hollinghead
added that the community showed their support in ways that touched
her heart.
“There
was such an outpouring of goodwill and sympathy, and I appreciate
it so much,” she said. “I found out that several
churches all over the county were making prayer chains, and individual
people were praying for me as well.
“I
believe in the power of prayer, and know that all that support
will help me get through this.”
Pensacola) was the need for legal
representation. During the weeks that I was in intensive care
my family did not think about the high cost of medical and rehabilitative
service costs..JPG)
