Contributing Artists to the PSL Starter Kit 2026
These artists have heeded our call to artists, and their art has was chosen to be a part of the 5th Annual PSL Starter Kit program. We proudly feature them and welcome you to learn more about them, explore their art, and see where they draw inspiration in their creative process. They are from all over the USA, from the coast of California, out west, the midwest, and back east.
Terry Ann / Leigh Deschamps / Brittany Bishop / Michaela Basile / Michael Vasquez / Mya Akins / Shan Yang
What motivated you to submit your art to PSL’s Call to Artists for the Starter Kit?
I appreciated PSL’s mission. Helping people to feel that they are needed, wanted and loved and that they make a difference.
How does it feel knowing your art will be used to spread loving kindness to others?
I feel honored and hope that my art will bring comfort, joy and peace.
What is your favorite art medium? And what motivates your work?
Acrylic. Painting brings great comfort and peace to me. It is very therapeutic just the process of creating art. Also the insights and emotions
that can be reached through the act of creating art, can be so helpful; relieving, self expression, and issues in communication problem solving.
What do you want our volunteers/kit users to be aware of when they come across your art?
Each piece that I create has a story. I have had painting off and on for several years, but the last almost 6 years now, has been more purposeful. I paint to bring peace into
my space. I paint to bring my soul, joy. I paint to bring peace and joy to others. I gift some of my art to family and friends. It’s my way of showing my love and appreciation for them being in my life.
How do you think we can all make our way back to true meaningful human connection?
It’s important in my experience that people know they are being heard and that they matter. That we all have purpose in this life and we all matter.
Do you have a favorite quote/artists/books that inspires you?
My favorite artist is Vincent Van Gogh. I have 2 favorite quotes from Vincent: ‘I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream’-and-‘Art is to console those who are broken by life’.
What motivated you to submit your art to PSL’s Call to Artists for the Starter Kit?
I submitted because I want everyone to feel love and happy and feel like they get a huge hug from me and my art. I use my intuition and put all positive energy in to all things I do.
How does it feel knowing your art will be used to spread loving kindness to others?
It feels amazing knowing my art will spread kindness.
What is your favorite art medium? And what motivates your work?
My favorite medium is pen/pencil. Watercolor, and acrylic paints and I am motivated by passion this is it for me! Being creative, practicing everyday.
I want users to know that your style is your style, it’s ok whatever it is! Be true to you, Do what you love or that makes you happy and smile.
How do you think we can all make our way back to true meaningful human connection?
To get back to meaningful connection, I think we need to build your community find your people even if it’s family or friend or your chosen family, love and support each other.
Do you have a favorite quote/artists/books that inspires you?
I am inspired by Albert Einstein all the time. “Imagination is more important the knowledge “ however I am an avid reader, I love books! Also the movie Field of Dreams my favorite- always dream big.
What motivated you to submit your art to PSL’s Call to Artists for the Starter Kit?
As an art therapist, it is important to me to make art approachable to people. In my line of work, I often hear the fear and anxiety around creating. People are often afraid to make mistakes, that their art won’t look “good,” and that they aren’t creative. But I think that’s a false statement. People are naturally creative creatures, and when we allow ourselves to create for the sake of creating a lot of wonderful things can happen.
How does it feel knowing your art will be used to spread loving kindness to others?
That’s one of my favorite things about making art is to evoke feelings of joy. While, I do believe in exploring the whole range of emotions through art making and viewing art, at the end of the day, everyone wants to be happy. And when you create something that brings a smile to someone’s face, it brightens your day too.
What is your favorite art medium? And what motivates your work?
Some of my favorite art mediums are acrylic paint, oil pastels, and mixed media art. I love taking old things and creating something new. I’m very exploratory and playful in my art and the whole point behind making my art is to experience the process of making art that satisfies and speaks to whatever emotion or idea I’m trying to convey.
What do you want our volunteers/kit users to be aware of when they come across your art?
I hope when folks interact with my art, specifically the design included in the PSL kit, they feel present, they feel joyful, and they can see that art making doesn’t have to be complex to mean something.
How do you think we can all make our way back to true meaningful human connection?
That’s a topic I could dive very deeply into. Again as a counselor and art therapist, I think about this kind of question a lot. I think one big factor is getting in touch with our creative sides and our playful sides. From a US perspective, we live in a very capitalist society where often our hobbies are disregarded or brushed off to the side because they’re deemed less important if they don’t make an income. I think people need to return to nature, play, and building community within their local spaces. When we acknowledge that the parts of life that mean the most are the parts spent laughing, playing, and connecting with other people in ways that feel fulfilling and good then those things become priority again.
Do you have a favorite quote/artists/books that inspires you?
Some of my favorite artists that inspired my styles of creating a little bit would definitely include Kahlo, O’Keef, and early impressionists, particularly Van Gogh. Truthfully, I am often inspired by the world around me. I love nature and feel some of the best ways to be inspired and become connected again is by being outside. I’m often inspired by my clients and the things that they create. I love seeing how people interpret a prompt or a feeling, and it often motivates me to create a response image. And in the end, that’s what great art does. At this point, we are all inspired by and copying one another via our own perspectives, understandings, and styles.
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
As someone who has struggled with depression, I believe we need art that brings beauty into the world without denying the existence of pain and darkness. Beauty can be healing, clarifying, and nurturing. When I create, I seek to share the hope and light that I have found.
What’s your favorite medium to work with?
Oils, Watercolor, and Ink are my three favorite. I create different art with different mediums, so it’s difficult to choose just one!
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others?
I’m so pleased! My watercolors are birthed from a calming meditative process and I’m excited for that calm and peace to be communicated to those who need encouragement and inspiration.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
After a personal loss, a friend bought me some painted lady caterpillars – watching them become butterflies saved my life at the time and I’ll never forget her.
Michaela Basile
(16)
Brick, NJ
What motivated you to submit your art to PSL’s Call to Artists for the Starter Kit?
I was motivated by the main idea that the PSL group has which is to spread love in communities.
How does it feel knowing your art will be used to spread loving kindness to others?
It’s a good feeling knowing people will have a piece of my artwork with them that will be a reminder to practice empathy in their daily lives.
What is your favorite art medium? And what motivates your work?
My favorite art medium is acrylic and oil paints, but I mostly work in digital at the moment. I am motivated to create art that resonates and educates people who engage with my artwork.
What do you want our volunteers/kit users to be aware of when they come across your art?
I want volunteers / kit users to know that all of these traits, empathy, kindness, etc., are things that can be practiced. And they are things you should practice in your daily lives to make it a habit.
How do you think we can all make our way back to true meaningful human connection?
By engaging with other humans in real life with open minds and the realization that we all come from diverse backgrounds that affect our current day beliefs and lives.
Do you have a favorite quote/artists/books that inspires you?
“Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable choice” – Brene Brown
What motivated you to submit your art to PSL’s Call to Artists for the Starter Kit?
I love PSL’s mission and supporting anything Heather does! I appreciate having an organization that does positive things for communities and is run by someone who is authentic and deeply cares for others. I aim to use my art to spread joy, happiness, and positivity. I hope by contributing I can help bring joy to those who are going through tough times; even if it brings them a little smile and brightens their day I feel like I’ve accomplished my mission.
How does it feel knowing your art will be used to spread loving kindness to others?
It feels really special and brings me joy. I feel art helps connect us and can create happy feelings inside of us. Even if I can’t see people’s reactions to my art or know exactly how it makes them feel, I know how creating it and looking at it makes me feel and I hope those same feelings can travel to others!
What is your favorite art medium? And what motivates your work?
My favorite Art medium changes! I originally loved watercolors and mostly used watercolor, however, I’ve been using acrylic paint a lot lately and am loving it so much! Motivation for me can come from so many places. My biggest motivators are when I get to commission pieces for someone or donate a piece to an art fundraiser. Being outside in nature and seeing so many beautiful places in so many different kinds of weather helps inspire my paintings with a multitude of colors, textures, and different painting styles.
What do you want our volunteers/kit users to be aware of when they come across your art?
I want them to know that when they are going through tough moments in their lives, I hope they can find something that gives them hope and helps them through the tough moment, even if it’s just a small piece of art with bright colors.
How do you think we can all make our way back to true meaningful human connection?
I think we can make our way back to true meaningful human connection by looking at our phones and social media less, intentionally trying to be kind to strangers, and going to community events. Social media and cell phones keep a lot of us preoccupied and worked up with constant negative news. Small ways we could start doing this could be complimenting people in public or saying something kind to a stranger, trying to have conversations with people in public instead of staring at our phones, and try going to one community event a month/taking a random class (pottery, sewing, etc). I’ve been trying to do this and it has helped me build more connections with people.
Do you have a favorite quote/artists/books that inspires you?
There are so many artists and people that inspire me! Abby Pittman is probably my favorite.. I love how she is able to capture wildlife and wildflowers in her paintings with bright fun colors, while still creating fine art. Her work is so unique and fun to look at!
What motivated you to submit your art to PSL’s Call to Artists for the Starter Kit?
I am always excited when I can use art to bless others and instill love, joy, hope, and peace.
How does it feel knowing your art will be used to spread loving kindness to others?
I am extremely honored and blessed that my art will be used to spread love and kindness.
What is your favorite art medium? And what motivates your work? My current favorite medium is acrylic paint.
What do you want our volunteers/kit users to be aware of when they come across your art?
I want others to be reminded that we have the ability to choose to love and have a positive attitude in life. I also want others to be reminded that gratitude and anxiety cannot simultaneously exist.
How do you think we can all make our way back to true meaningful human connection?
I think we can return to true meaningful human connection when we think of others before ourselves more frequently and when we remember that we do not own, control, or have the ability to reclaim time.
Do you have a favorite quote/artists/books that inspires you?
I enjoy books by Brant Hansen, especially his book Blessed Are The Misfits. A key verse for me is written by Paul in Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”