Pocono News Section

A Fresh Canvas

A Fresh Canvas - Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 1:50PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Oct 8, 2009 @ 01:50pm EDT
STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - With life as her canvas and hope as her brush, Austin Davis paints inspiration. She remarked, "There is life. There is always life."

Austin broke her neck in a diving accident two years ago. She said, "It's tough. Not feeling like you have anything next." The accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. She also couldn't move her arms or fingers. She said, "I didn't think that I'd be able to do anything."

Extensive surgery helped her regain movement in her arms but she still couldn't do things she loved. No hiking. No skiing. No swimming. She said, "I was frustrated. I was frustrated that I couldn't do what I used to be able to do."

Art therapy helped ease her frustration. A special glove gives her just enough grip to pinch a brush between her fingers. She said, "I adapted to the situation like anybody in my position would and has to do."

She painted over her anger about the accident. She said, "You just have to kind of release that and move on - just let it go and move forward."

Now she pains from a palette of hope. She explained, "The hope that things will get better. The hope that there will be new treatments in the future."

Now she makes art that you can interpret in multiple ways. It's art that proves life is your canvas, you are the painter and you can choose to see any situation as a sunset or a sunrise.

Austin is working on a website at . You can email her at aaustinddavis@gmail. com.