Abigail Barry Art .. 2019 The Collection
A few of my favourite pieces to date
Where it all began !!
WELCOME to my WEBSITE -
Well - thats something i NEVER thought i would hear myself ... TYPE !!
Im Abby - 20 Years ago I was quiet and not very social, demure even ... Got a Boyfriend / Later to be my husband / had two FABULOUS KIDS - was very obliging !
Then I got ill -
and now - WOW - Im a different person entirely !
My weight Ballooned ( Even though i have never been 'small' !! )
I started getting the most IMMENSE headaches, and so very very tired, and Irritable !
( I know - this one is so hard to believe ! )
I would drop to the floor and not be able to move - totally aware of what was happening, just not be able to do a thing about it.
My whole personality changed - One minute i was the HULK ... then I was me ... then i was suicidal .. All very very scary - until you knew what was the matter - and thank god ( ohh - im not spiritual at all - but - it feels right to say it !! Contradiction I know ! ) I had a FABULOUS GP - One day i went in there with my Husband- ( Who at the time was an Absolute Rock ) told her all my symptoms - and immediately - she said - You have Cushings - But - It is almost if not impossible to diagnose - and even more difficult to treat ... She - at the time was working at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital with the Endocrynological Team - Who - DEAL WITH CUSHINGS !!
So - from there on in - she sent me - What seems like monthly - for MRI's - with and without Contrast on my Pituitary Gland - A small Gland in the brain that controls - well - basically its like petrol for your car - it runs everything !!
About 10 years in - and i got a call - Myself and the Hubby went in, sat down - and she said -
"Mrs Barry - YOU HAVE A BRAIN TUMOUR" -
IT HAS SHOWED UP AT LAST !!-
Well - i must be the ONLY person to ever walk out of a doctors surgery after being given THAT NEWS SMILING !!!
I was NOT mad !!!
Even I was doubting myself !! - lol !!
I knew i wasnt eating to put on weight -
I knew I wasnt shouting at people because i was a nasty person
I knew i was not totally useless and gave up easily for no reason - there was always a reason
I knew I wasnt lazy but just UNBELIEVEABLE tired - ALL THE TIME
I knew I .............. OH THE LIST IS ENDLESS - SERIOUSLY - ITS ENDLESS !!
But - its good ...... Untill they said they would not treat it - because - " Your Cyclical - your tumour comes and goes "
- So - OK - Im stuck like this and can't change a thing -
BUT - INSTEAD OF BEING DOWNBEAT -
I TRY TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE -
AND KEEP SMILIN -
( Most of the time !! ( When im not Hulk - or Biatch from hell !! )
Then about 5 years ago they found the secon Tumour this time on the stalk of the Pit gland - still no op - and actually - i was asked if i wanted a Gastric band by my PITUITARY SPECIALIST !!!! - I had to inform him - that - If i had that i would probably die - because - although - yes - i am over 20 stone - actually i hardly eat - he looked shocked - so i had to go into details about how MY BODY has gone into starvation mode and literally everything it see's it stores - and - on top of this - as i can't exercise ( due to my body/ HEAD shutting down if i move ) I CANT DO A THING ABOUT IT .. he understood at the end of the appointment - and no - i didnt have him in a headlock ! I may have had a little shout though - once or twice !
OK OK - so - THEN they wanted to treat symptoms - and i have been on a concoction of various medicines !!
Never once being symptom free ......
BUT - About 7 months ago - about the same time i started seeing a Neuro Psychiatrist - Who put me on Sodium Valproate ( Which - Is used in clinical trials to treat CYCLICAL CUSHINGS !! - My sysmptoms have started to ease - HUGELY EASE - OK - Im not losing weight - and actually - i do seem hungrier - but - i am able to think and control my moods more - and im able to registar whats happening - IT'S BRILLIANT !!
but = THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS TO GET ODD
I have never been able to paint in my life !!! - Literally - at christmas - i didnt bother to play the games - Drawing related - because i was useless - no-body ever got mine right !! Mum tried to get me interested in Sugar Craft - but - omg i was rubbish and actually paid someone to make my 'masterpieces' for me for peoples birthdays !!
I literally was THAT BAD !!!
BUT NOW -
( http://brainblogger.com/2012/09/23/what-is-creativity-art-as-a-symptom-of-brain-disease/ )
WELL - Have a look at my Art - People seem to think its Unique and Quirky and Fun -
and If you enjoy it- and smile - then my work is done !
I PAINT THREE MAIN 'TYPES'
FABULOUS FAT LADIES
ANIMALS
SCENIC ( Around Herne Bay )
BEING A FABULOUS FAT LADY ...
I DONT FEEL UNJUST IN PAINTING FAT WOMEN IN THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY - Body positivity is very close to my heart - and EVERONE should be loved for who they are - and not feel as though they have to change to 'fit in'
LOVE THE SKIN YOUR IN
and that way you will be at one and happy -
Alot of my Ladies ( I have now branced out into guys too ! ) are painted without faces - MAINLY ( and im always honest ! ) because i cant do faces ! - But - Now i think it's good that the viewer can make up their own mind about the character of the individual !
JUST THE THREE OF US
( I hope you sung that !! - Because i did )
I started painting animals first, and LOVE doing them - the expression and the eyes - BUT - The Body Positive is my 'thang' !!! I usually paint a mix of dogs faces and farmyard animals ...... i have no idesa why i am so drawn to these !
I just love this piece - all that characters just make me feel so muchlove and so happy - and you can see the expression and the fact they are all happy and just interested = Probably one of my Favourites !!!!
FIRST ARTFINDER SALE
This was the First Painting that sold off ArtFinder ( when i was on it ! ) ended up being a friend of mine -
BUT - Still a sale - I still feel guilty about that one !!
I have since come off Artfinder -
I found out there was a HUGE market for my art
BUT it was too expensive and SOMEHOW i ended up owing them money !!!
THEN I WENT NATIONAL !!!
OK OK - Not quite Name in Lights - BUT -
I put a message on my local HERNE BAY CHATTER PAGE
about my art work
and then a lady from the local newspaper got in touch !
Then the Sun and Mirror Nicked the story ! -
I got in those, and not for anything dodgy either - GO ME !
Since that I have had ITV and BBC / Papers and Magazines asking to have a chat - BUT due to the very nature of my illness - THAT is almost impossible -
Although my friends were loving the idea of me sitting between Philip and Holly on THIS MORNING !! - I would have caused a riot !
Shame as I would have loved it too - and can talk about myself all day long,
I just could not cope with ........ 'people'
I made sure i didnt put in 'stupid' at the beginning there - cause thats what i was thinking
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