Creative Arts

The paintings below are all original works of art and were all created by Carol Roberts. They are all oil on canvas and are copyrighted by the artist (Carol Roberts). Copying or using these images without the explicit written permission by the artist is strickly prohibited.

The main figure is on a spiritual quest for wholeness. On her path she encounters an abyss. Instead of giving up, she puts her foot out over the chasm and takes the leap! With eyes closed, she doesn't know she has angels and helpers all around her to support her Leap of Faith.

Alchemy is a black magic woman, but her son, Chemistry, has no interest in the amazing transformations she is performing - turning lead to gold, dropping ordinary stones into the cauldron and forming butterflies from the smoke. Magic mushrooms are at her feet, representing the transformations of consciousness we are capable of. Chemistry, a young science, is ignoring her in favor of playing with blocks - (materialism misses a lot!)

This is Astrology and Mathematics with their bastard child Astronomy.

Of course, Astrology and Mathematics cannot be understood to interact in an intimate way, since astrology is not "a science". But nevertheless, it is true that astrology was around long before astronomy, and was one way that preceding generations observed and interpreted the night sky. Even today we can utilize the archetypes of astrology to better understand ourselves and others… You might not "believe" in it, but our ancestors used it, and we might find more truth in it than "science" has yet to admit.

This is a recent painting that depicts my feelings about medicine in the United States today. The central figure is a character I call the Art of Medicine. She is being attacked from every angle - the swooping vulture is Big Pharma, the golden snake is the Standard of Care, and the vicious dog is the FDA protecting corporate interests.

Having graduated medical training in 1978, I never encountered the phrase “standard of care”, until a few years later. The moment I heard that, I saw it written on a tombstone - of the Art of Medicine. Individualized care is near impossible under the current paradigm. Everyone gets the same treatment, no matter their situation. Many patients get side effects from standardized dosing because everyone gets the same starter dose, whether you are a linebacker or a bird lady.

If the standard of care is to give a drug for every symptom, and there is neither time, nor incentive, nor trained physicians to dig for the root cause, the only interest served is that of the pharmaceutical industry. And they own the media with their crazy advertisements, aimed not so much at the patient, as to guarantee that alternatives are never discussed in the mainstream.

A doctor who practices integrative/holistic/good medicine is fighting back with the best tool she has - her integrity, symbolized by the caduceus in her left hand, holding back the onslaught with the force of truth.

This painting is also a call to action for a patient. If you have a chronic medical issue, consider finding a practitioner who is more interested in finding out why, than in securing your insurance card. Most of these practitioners are charging cash for their services, but you need to decide if your health is worth the price. Getting a “second opinion” from a doctor like that may change your life in many ways.