From pain to paint
<p>Jeanne Sliva, 62, of Bayview has suffered from chronic back pain, migraines and depression throughout her life. Two years ago, Silva discovered painting to keep her mind off her pain. She started painting old furniture that she finds at yard sales, antique stores and garages and recently sold her pieces for a total of $1,300.</p>
<p>A detail painted by Jeanne Silva is part of her design on an old table that recently sold for $600. Silva uses house paint to ensure that her paintings last.</p>
BAYVIEW - Jeanne Sliva has a way of turning odds and ends into eye-catching pieces of art.
Using house paint and a meticulous hand, she transforms normal cabinets, tables, benches and more into delightful, multicolored, multi-patterned displays of her talent.
"I evolve," the 62-year-old Bayview resident said. "I always evolve."
The Sliva home is filled with colorful furniture and interesting collectibles. A black and white checkered teapot rests on the stove, matching the various other black and white or checkered patterns found on painted cabinets and tables. On the walls hang pieces of artwork, including examples of Jeanne's bright, careful cross-stitching.
"She doesn't like keeping static," said Al Sliva, 76, Jeanne's husband and soulmate of 15 years.
Jeanne seems to have a million and one projects in progress and more planned for the future. She enjoys collecting pottery, sketching and cross-stitching, but in the last couple years has become an avid painter.
Part of the reason Jeanne keeps so busy is because she has a tough time sitting still. She has nerve damage, degenerative disc disease and herniated discs in her back as well as constant, chronic pain stemming from issues with the L4-L5 segment of spine in her lower back. She also suffers from severe migraines.
"The main part is, and the worst part, is (the chronic pain) triggers my migraines," she said, adding that the neurological migraines she has dealt with since she was a teenager have combined with the triggered migraines caused by the chronic pain. She also battled depression for several years, something she said got much better when she met Al. She said Al helps her with many of her problems just by being there.
Many of Jeanne's physical problems began when she was T-boned in a car wreck 30 years ago, rear-ended in another car wreck 25 years ago and then took a bad spill down stairs at her work 17 years ago. She said the second car accident didn't end so well.
"After that, (the doctor) couldn't fix my back at all," she said.
The artistic and home improvement projects allow Jeanne to focus on something other than the pain which shoots through her head and neck. By staying busy, she stays distracted by what could be debilitating for others.
"It's a need, to tell you the truth," Jeanne said, slightly smiling. "It drives him nuts. "
Jeanne recently sold five pieces of her hand-painted goods for a total of $1,300, ranging $50 to $600 apiece. She is constantly moving furniture around to make space for potential project pieces she might pick up at yard sales, vintage warehouses or consignment stores. She works on "anything she can find," she said. The piece she sold for $600 was a pre-1900s wooden table with what she called "dovetails," or wooden hinges. She said she is always looking for the next piece to which she can add some "pizzazz." And she paints them all freely by hand.
"I even tried taping stuff, but it leaves little ridges, and I'm a little bit obsessive-compulsive. We won't get into that part," she said. "I have to do it by hand."
Anyone interested in purchasing one of Jeanne's masterpieces or selling/donating furniture or odds and ends for her to paint can email Jeanne at pandjman@frontier.com.