I came to New York to work at the coffee shop in a yoga studio called Jivamukti. I was going through a very difficult time spiritually and mentally. I never thought I would paint again.

 

After work, a few times a week, I would set up a painting station on the floor by the L train and invite people to paint with me while they waited. I put up sayings on the wall, brought basic supplies, and offered everyone the chance to paint for free.

 

I also made hundreds of small handwritten positive messages and placed them in a bucket for people to take. Simple words like “LET IT GO,” “I MUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE,” and “I MUST REMEMBER TO SMILE.” So many people came back to thank me, telling me they had picked the exact message they needed to read that day.

 

Kids, business people, tourists, homeless, musicians — people from every walk of life. Over 600 people painted with me.

 

On a few occasions I was asked to leaveby the NYPD  (they were very friendly), but I kept coming back. Because what happened on that subway floor was real. For a moment, in the middle of a busy city, people connected through color.