Artist’s Second Chance at Life Inspires Watercolors

Sometimes you get a second chance at life.

For Barbara Markham of Rochester, suffering a brain aneurysm was the beginning of her second chance and the catalyst for the watercolor artist to look at life, and her art, in a whole new way.

“It has given me a new perspective. (Before the aneurysm), I was much more hesitant and nervous about my work," she said. "My work now is freer, brighter, full of life.

"Inspiration comes to me in the beauty of nature and the world around me.”

Markham, 61, is a former Utica Schools art teacher. Her watercolors, which include colorful flowers, lakes, northern Michigan scenes and Italian landscapes, will be on display at in Rochester Hills throughout February.

The day things changed

In July 2002, Markham was preparing to celebrate her birthday and begin a trip to Hawaii. While packing the day before her departure, she didn’t feel well and decided to take a nap to relieve a headache. Later that afternoon, her father tried to wake her but could not get a response. She was taken to where it was determined that she had suffered a brain aneurysm — an abnormal widening of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel.

“The aneurysm was leaking,” Markham said. “The doctors told us later that if much more time had passed, I would have died.”

Aneurysms often have no symptoms, and the risk of death after a rupture is high, she says.

Markham spent nearly three weeks in the hospital, another seven in a residential rehabilitation facility and a total of almost 18 months recovering. Right after the aneurysm, she couldn’t see, walk or talk. She didn’t recognize her children or parents and had very little memory.

“I would look through (photograph) books to try to remember things. I would have to say words out loud, even if I was by myself, to get used to speaking again,” she said.

Finding the answer in art

Eventually, she was able to return to painting and the art she loves. Markham said her watercolors have been a saving grace.

“I’d been a teacher for 31 years, but the doctor told me that I could never go back to teaching: that is was time to retire. And I thought, ‘What will I do now?’ ” she said. She soon came to the conclusion that the answer was paint.

“I contacted a local bank and took five of my paintings to ask them if they’d display my work. They said if I came back with 20, I could have a show,” she said.

That was seven years ago, and by word of mouth as well exhibiting at Arts & Apples and the art show, she’s become a successful watercolorist, selling more than 450 paintings in the past seven years.

“I love where I am right now,” Markham said. “So much is different in my life, but it’s been wonderful, and I feel blessed."

Barbara Markham’s work will be displayed at the TCF Bank in Rochester Hills, 70 W. Tienken Rd. (corner of Tienken and Rochester roads) throughout February. Bank hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. A will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the bank.
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