Twila Julien Wilt: A Celebration of Life in Art
It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Twila Julien Wilt of Tipp City, on February 1, 2022, after many years of living with cancer.
From her obituary:
"Twila was also an accomplished artist, who began to paint and draw at an early age, then the Dayton Art Institute to study fashion design. After many years of being busy with work and family, creating only occasional works of art, she reignited her love of painting and further developed her artistic talents at the Rusty Harden Studio in Tipp City, painting pictures to capture sight beyond seeing. Her paintings brought joy to others, as gifts, as commissions, as frequent prize-winning exhibits in local art shows. Among other achievements, she won top prizes at shows sponsored by the Tipp City Area Arts Council and the Darke County Fair. She participated regularly in the annual Art of Recovery exhibit sponsored by the Tri County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services. She was a friend of Bill W. for 29 years."
Read the full obituary here.
Twila has been a regular contributor to the Tri-County Board's Art of Recovery Exhibitions. For the 2021 Exhibition, called "Emergence," she contributed a painting called "Just A Detour." In describing the painting, she wrote: "Orange represents me, optimistic, creative, determined. Green represents health, renewal, new beginnings. Blue represents freedom, joy, peace. Black represents cancer, fear, evil. Lotus represents me overcoming obstacles, hope, strength."
For the 2021 Exhibition, called "Coping With COVID," she offered two drawings, "Longing," and "Loss." about "Longing," she wrote: "The central tree represents me. The others are family and friends who must be kept at a distance, especially since I have an underlying health condition, lung cancer. The buildings in the distance, barely seen, represent the places I was accustomed to frequenting: friends' and families’ homes, clubs to fellowship with others in Recovery for support, shops and restaurants, entertainment venues. The hill represents the obstacle COVID-19 hands me in enjoying life as it was."
About the drawing "Loss," she wrote: "She represents all of us who long for hugs from children, grandchildren, friends. Her arms have atrophied from lack of use. The spirit dies a little each day without human touch from loved ones. The simplest things in our lives reveal themselves as immense during this period. Loss has been sizable."
In 2016, Twila's drawing "Phenomenon of Craving" was selected for the Directors' Choice Award, and as such was featured in the promotion for the 2017 Art of Recovery Exhibition. The drawing was also used on the cover of custom-designed journals presented to persons in recovery.
We are saddened at her passing, but remain grateful that her artwork will endure and may inspire others in their recovery journeys.
From her obituary:
"Twila was also an accomplished artist, who began to paint and draw at an early age, then the Dayton Art Institute to study fashion design. After many years of being busy with work and family, creating only occasional works of art, she reignited her love of painting and further developed her artistic talents at the Rusty Harden Studio in Tipp City, painting pictures to capture sight beyond seeing. Her paintings brought joy to others, as gifts, as commissions, as frequent prize-winning exhibits in local art shows. Among other achievements, she won top prizes at shows sponsored by the Tipp City Area Arts Council and the Darke County Fair. She participated regularly in the annual Art of Recovery exhibit sponsored by the Tri County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services. She was a friend of Bill W. for 29 years."
Read the full obituary here.
Twila has been a regular contributor to the Tri-County Board's Art of Recovery Exhibitions. For the 2021 Exhibition, called "Emergence," she contributed a painting called "Just A Detour." In describing the painting, she wrote: "Orange represents me, optimistic, creative, determined. Green represents health, renewal, new beginnings. Blue represents freedom, joy, peace. Black represents cancer, fear, evil. Lotus represents me overcoming obstacles, hope, strength."
For the 2021 Exhibition, called "Coping With COVID," she offered two drawings, "Longing," and "Loss." about "Longing," she wrote: "The central tree represents me. The others are family and friends who must be kept at a distance, especially since I have an underlying health condition, lung cancer. The buildings in the distance, barely seen, represent the places I was accustomed to frequenting: friends' and families’ homes, clubs to fellowship with others in Recovery for support, shops and restaurants, entertainment venues. The hill represents the obstacle COVID-19 hands me in enjoying life as it was."
About the drawing "Loss," she wrote: "She represents all of us who long for hugs from children, grandchildren, friends. Her arms have atrophied from lack of use. The spirit dies a little each day without human touch from loved ones. The simplest things in our lives reveal themselves as immense during this period. Loss has been sizable."
In 2016, Twila's drawing "Phenomenon of Craving" was selected for the Directors' Choice Award, and as such was featured in the promotion for the 2017 Art of Recovery Exhibition. The drawing was also used on the cover of custom-designed journals presented to persons in recovery.
We are saddened at her passing, but remain grateful that her artwork will endure and may inspire others in their recovery journeys.
