In this episode of I Love Your Stories, Hava Gurevich speaks with visionary artist and art therapy coach Tonya McGuire about finding her way back to art after a major health scare forced her to stop, reassess, and reconnect with her creative voice.
Tonya shares how art had always been part of her life, but years of work, responsibility, single parenting, business ownership, and corporate leadership pushed her creativity into the background. After experiencing symptoms that led to a diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia, she found herself returning to drawing and painting as a way to move through fear, uncertainty, and healing.
The conversation explores visionary art, storytelling through portraits, trauma, mentorship, community, creative reinvention later in life, and what it means to build a meaningful art practice rooted in legacy, emotional connection, and resilience.

Shownotes

In this conversation, Hava and Tonya discuss:

Finding art again after a health crisis
Tonya talks about how heart-related health challenges forced her to pause, step away from the pace of work, and return to her brushes during a period of uncertainty.

Growing up creative but choosing other responsibilities first
Tonya reflects on how art was always in the background, but earning a living, supporting her family, raising her daughter, and working in sales leadership took priority for many years.

The emotional power of art
She shares the early experience of creating work that moved her father to tears, and how that moment showed her art could touch people on a deeply personal level.

What it means to be a visionary artist
Tonya explains how her work moved beyond simple portraiture into storytelling, symbolism, emotion, hummingbirds, lotus flowers, wildlife, sea life, and the feeling of becoming.

Learning, mentorship and community
The episode explores Tonya’s experience with the Milan Art Institute, the Society of Professional Artists, Art Storefronts, and the importance of being part of creative communities that support growth.

Turning art into a professional path later in life
Tonya shares how she began selling pet portraits, developed a body of work, and started building a professional art career within a short period of time.

Art, trauma and healing
The conversation touches on childhood trauma, EMDR therapy, post-traumatic stress, and Tonya’s work creating trauma workshops through art.

Legacy, caregiving and end-of-life storytelling
Tonya discusses the idea of legacy portraits and how art can help tell meaningful stories around life, ageing, caregiving, memory, and transition.

Redefining success
Tonya reflects on success as the ability to continue creating work that makes people feel something, while also learning how to manage life when it becomes loud.

Advice for artists beginning again
She encourages artists who have put their passion aside to make a plan, stay accountable, speak belief out loud, expect resistance, and find their voice.