Sandra Woods Creative Arts

06/16/2026

I finished another of my Art Despite Pain *pain*tings today, at the end of a three-step process in which I let the dry completely and then flattened it after each addition of pigments (colours). 🎨
It's part of my ongoing series of 'pain waves' and 'pain flares', but this one has a neuroscience twist. 💥
Instead of adding a wave into the pale area that I'd reserved by painting around it, I added a neuron rising out of the surface. 🧠
This is a tribute to new research published this spring, that mapped pain-sensing neurons in detail and showed that the neural circuits for differ from those of acute pain... which may lead to better treatment options in the future! 🔬

06/15/2026

06/11/2026

Very happy to share that 2 of my have just been juried into another international open exhibition, this time presented by the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) in Vancouver! 🖼 🖼
This art show will run from July 21 through August 9, at the FCA's stunning Federation Gallery on Granville Island. 🏝
A great opportunity to hop onto an AquaBus or water-taxi & savour the foodie-friendly Granville Island Public Market 🛟
PS: My two fave 'finds' at the Granville Island Market were Snack City where I picked up lots of Indigenous-sourced candied wild salmon to bring home to Montréal, & La Bise pastry shop specializing in Bordeaux-style French pastries called canelés! 😋
I'm also proud that both of my selected paintings are part of my Art Despite Pain initiative, which uses my artwork to raise awareness of and shares my art practice to encourage others living with persistent pain to try creative pursuits to hopefully harness the science of neuroplasticity or brain-plasticity to reduce pain signals within the brain. 🧠

📅 Exhibition: 21 July to 09 August 2026
⏰️ Vernissage/Opening reception: 24 July, 1500 to 1700
🧭 Federation Gallery
1241 Cartwright Street
Vancouver, BC
* On the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. *

06/11/2026

Visited the M.C. Escher exhibition in Montréal today & was absolutely blown away! 🎨
From his early landscapes through book illustrations and finally to his more mathematical works, the detail of his linework - in woodcut & other methods - was absolutely incredible. ✏️
I'd known that before, of course, but seeing more than 150 of his works up close was stunning. 🖼

06/06/2026

Yesterday's adventure! 🎨
When I needed a rest-break during my late-lunch Friday, I headed to this beat-up old mailbox that I'd spotted last week. 📫
It's on the site of an old abandoned farm, and has obviously been here for quite a while. ⏳️
I got a first wash or layer of done, but then had to pack up & head home for a virtual meeting - so I'll finish this one on my next ride past that area 💻
PS: Our RealFeel temperature was almost 30°C this afternoon, so I was holding my painting-water container in my hand instead of my mini-palette - to keep literally splashing water onto my cotton paper so it would stay damp!
Next week - still not yet summer! - our RealFeel temperature is forecasted to hit 40°C, so I'll switch to early-morning rides. 🚲
These rides are important to me, because they combine three facets of my symptom-management plan for my two different rare diseases; aerobic or cardio exercise for chronic pain & a midlife-onset Mild Cognitive Impairment, time in nature to reduce the stresses of living with severe pain & two rare conditions, and art... using a neuroplasticity or brain-plasticity approach for both my pain & my cognitive challenges. 🧠
So my Art Despite Pain initiative uses my artwork to raise awareness of chronic pain conditions and shares my art practice to encourage others living with persistent pain to try creative pursuits to hopefully distract their brain from pain 💥

06/04/2026

Started a new painting today, as part of my ongoing series of waves & volcanic eruptions, representing 'waves of pain' & 'pain flares" 🌊 🌋
Once these layers have dried completely I'll paint in the sky, then let it dry again before finally adding a darker wave where I've left pale areas... from the middle into the right side of the scene 🎨
I'm playing with an inverted T-composition, which will be slightly off-centre once this one's finished 🖌

06/03/2026

🏳️‍🌈 The Canadian Pain Society proudly stands with 2SLGBTQI+. We recognize that individuals within this community may face unique challenges in managing pain and accessing health care. We reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equitable pain management for all.