You Can Do It! Our Philosophy

Creating Hope hand-painted bookmarkYou don’t have to be an artist to express your spirituality and have fun painting, even if you’ve never painted before. Our daughter Jeanette found this to be true. When her children would come home from school they would paint bookmarks together. They would have so much fun painting … and making bookmarks for their teachers and friends. She also encouraged cancer patients and their caregivers to paint bookmarks as a way of expressing their feelings and escaping for a time from the anxiety and physical pain associated with cancer.


Painting also helps us connect with our spiritual dimension. Psychologists and medical practitioners are studying how one’s spirituality makes us whole. There is now evidence that a person’s well being is positively correlated in those who do some form of spiritual practice. A growing number of mental health professionals believe spirituality is the single most important source of strength and direction in life.


We hope to give you confidence in painting through the simple medium of bookmarks. We have discovered ways to show anyone how to paint a bookmark and in fact have the five-minute bookmark promise.


All you have to do to create a bookmark is simply drop some colors onto wet paper and allow the pigments to run together. Then, using a wet brush, pull the colors together to create mindless, colorful free forms. Doing this will release your inner spirit. You will have created a one-of-a kind bookmark that represents your spirituality, your inner voice.


The experienced, the beginner, and non-artist alike can accomplish this method of painting. Paint many bookmarks and then give them away. Those who receive your bookmarks will be thinking and praying for you. Jeanette believed she could feel the positive energy that came from those who received her bookmarks.


Even if you have never painted before, plan to spend a few minutes painting with us. Why not give it a try? It will only take you a few minutes to get in touch with your inner self... and maybe feel better. (Click here for bookmark painting instructions.)


Paint bookmarks and give them to others...as a source of inspiration, strength, hope, joy and love.
       — John Gianfagna, Creating Hope artist and workshop facilitator