A Fundraiser for Jeanie Tomanek

Just ten days after the death of her husband of 53 years, my mom, the incredibly talented painter Jeanie Tomanek, was diagnosed with breast cancer. When my father's stroke nearly 15 years ago left him unable to work, she became the family's sole provider. With the sudden loss of his pension benefits and the possibility that she may not be well enough to paint during this treatment, Jeanie not only has to start fighting this disease, but also has to worry if she will be able to pay her bills in addition to some pretty substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses.

We are starting this fundraiser to help her out through this next year which will include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

The funds will be used primarily to pay the out-of-pocket medical bills and also to provide her with some peace of mind during what is going to be a very challenging year.

If you have any questions please get in touch with me using the Contact button below. Thanks everyone! x mara

About Jeanie:

Artist Jeanie Tomanek draws upon themes that first developed in her poetry; exploring various feminine archetypes from myths, folk-tales, fairy tales and her own experiences. The natural world as she experienced it growing up on a farm in the Genessee Valley region of New York also strongly influences her work. Trees, flowers, birds and snow are symbols for emotional states or story elements. Dogs sometimes accompany the pale bald “Everywoman” protagonist on her journeys that often take place beneath a starry moonlit sky. She has been called a mythic artist, telling ancient stories that never grow old.

Tomanek is self-taught, and has always painted for pleasure. Beginning her full-time artist career in 2000 at age fifty, she calls this her “second act”. She lives in Marietta, Georgia, with her two rescue dogs.

“I love to show the strength and optimistic attributes of women. Even when they are in a quandary or in danger, I always try to show a glimmer of hope and wisdom—that they will solve the riddle and make it through, stronger and with dignity. Being bald and shorn of any particular identity, they become all women.”

She is also a published poet and her paintings have appeared as cover art for literary journals and poetry collections. Recently her painting “Thoreau’s Pumpkin” was included in the Hudson River Museum’s “Paintbox Leaves, Autumnal Inspiration from Cole to Wyeth”. Three images were also included in “Re-enchantment” a project produced for Australian Broadcasting Company that explores the ongoing effect of fairy tales in our daily lives.

Tomanek's work is held in many private and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.