TJ Blake is a contemporary artist whose work is rooted in healing, transformation, and the expressive power of the human hand. Her journey into art was not linear, but rather born at the intersection of passion, service, and personal renewal.
Before stepping into the world of visual art, Tommi built a deeply meaningful career as a Massage Therapist , using touch as a tool for comfort and restoration. Her work extended internationally, most notably in South Africa, where she provided therapeutic care to women and children living with HIV and AIDS. These experiences profoundly shaped her understanding of connection, resilience, and the quiet strength found in healing.
An unexpected injury while training for a marathon marked a pivotal turning point in her life. Forced to shift her focus from physical endurance to personal recovery, Tommi discovered painting as both refuge and release. What began as a way to fill a void quickly evolved into a powerful new form of expression—one that allowed her to channel emotion, movement, and vitality through color and form.
Today, Tommi works primarily with acrylic on canvas, and her specialty includes resin art, whether on wood or canvas, with plans to expand into oils. Her art reflects the same intention that once guided her therapeutic practice: to evoke feeling, restore balance, and inspire transformation. Each piece is an extension of her hands—once used to heal through touch, now creating vibrancy and life through paint.
Driven by an insatiable desire to create, Tommi approaches her work with urgency and passion, often remarking that she would rather paint than eat. Her art stands as a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the enduring power of creativity as a path to healing.
