Book Overview:

The Woman with the Elephant Heart is the story of my personal journey to healing and self-discovery depicted through the paintings I have created. The book entices the reader to feel and relate to the images and writing nestled in the figurative heart. Layers of pencil and paint draw the viewer into the images while the text speaks in a familiar yet, often silent language shared within the hearts of women. This book is a companion for those who feel they are alone in negotiating life’s challenges, offering hope, kinship and comfort. The Woman with the Elephant Heart unveils new insights and discoveries with each reading.

My experiences with my son’s diagnosis of cystic fibrosis my own head injury and the resulting painful movement disorder dystonia have been the catalyst for creating The Woman with the Elephant Heart. The process of painting and imprinting my innermost feelings on large watercolor paper became a healing tool in the inner and spiritual journey of accepting my changing life. Ensuing discussions with women who viewed and identified with the paintings and revealed the need for a book that coincided with the same raw honesty revealed in my renderings. This prompted me to create the first prototype of The Woman with the Elephant Heart. Today, the book has a spirit of its own. The emotions exposed in The Woman with the Elephant Heart resonates the underlying feelings of many and in doing so fulfills the need for expression. As a result, many, satisfied with their purchase of this self-published book, returned to obtain copies for others. Readers recognize this as a story about a real person, who fell down, dusted herself off, and was still inspired to risk her heart again.

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Arlene Oberst
Lead co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul”

“I read  [The Woman with the Elephant Heart] and found it to be fascinating. Very Inspiring … I connected to each page from my own life experiences.”

Dr. Joanne Porter
Pediatric Oncologist / Hematologist

“This is a deeply spiritual book that would appeal to anyone open to learning about themselves.  Deborah Friedson has captured the myriad of emotions and reactions that we all experience in our life’s journey. It is a wonderful book that has you discovering new thoughts each time you open it.”

Dr. Lee Nagel PhD
Clinical Psychologist

“An arrestingly beautiful creation that lets us experience the universal journey with new eyes.”

Other prints for sale through Symmetry Gallery:

Deborah Friedson's art is primarily sold through Symmetry Gallery. To purchase original paintings or prints, please contact:

Symmetry Gallery
348 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
phone - 518.584.5090
www.symmetrygallery.com/mix_media.html


Each full-color print is priced at $25.

Prints to profit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:

In the style of The Woman with the Elephant Heart, a series of paintings have been specially created to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their research. The series includes four 8 x 10 prints for a purchase price of sixty–five dollars.

To purchase prints please click here.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a nonprofit donor-supported organization, is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis (CF) and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. The Foundation is one of the most efficient organizations of its kind. For more information about cystic fibrosis contact the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cff.org/Chapters/neny/