CARLA GRAHAM

AHH founder, Carla Graham, did not know she had the ability to paint until she was nearing the middle of her life. Although her grandmother showed her the basics of oil painting when she was in her teens, Carla lost interest in this art form once her grandmother died. In college, she earned a B. A. in psychology and went on to graduate school to earn an M. Ed. in Gerontology.

Working with older people has always been her passion. She spent nearly ten years working in the hospital setting with patients over the age of 55. She enjoyed their wisdom and wit. When her husband had the opportunity to take a giant leap with his career, she left her job and they moved to Boston, where Carla concentrated on her family.

As a stay-at-home mom, she began to realize the importance of having outside interests. At the age of 40, she enrolled in a beginning watercolor night class under the direction of artist Belinda Logan. Carla hoped the class would serve as a form of art therapy for the tremendous stress she felt at home, raising two children with autism. Once each week she entered into a world of creative adults (most of them seniors) who helped her relax and find the beauty in life, something she had been unable to see for many years. After a few lessons, she knew she had found something that not only was she good at, but it was something she felt inspired to do.

Less than a year passed before Carla created a vision she had of autism that helped her feel at peace with the way life had turned out for her family. If that piece of work could bring such a profound strength to her, then perhaps others would benefit from its message as well. She began selling prints of Decoding the Mystery of Autism, donating profits to the Center for Children with Special Needs at Tufts-New England Medical Center’s Floating Hospital for Children, where her son had received outstanding care from their autism experts. Helping families without adequate insurance receive the same superior medical treatment was something Carla felt joyfully obligated do.

A couple of months later, the chance to sell an original painting presented itself. This time, a very dear friend with a mutual interest in Alzheimer’s Disease, purchased one of Carla’s portraits. Without hesitation, Carla donated the entire sale price to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of the purchaser. Both women were elated at the decision, and Carla knew she had stumbled upon a wonderful way to give back to the community.

That very day, Carla began planning a way to make her art available to people everywhere and include a method for her paintings to do social good. From that vision, this website was developed and launched in less than a year, thanks to family and good friends who supported her idea.

Carla lives in Texas with her husband, son, and daughter.