Filomena has a giving and playful approach to living that shows itself as she claims, “When the last two of our children moved out to attend university it was unsettling, “I quickly adapted to my new-found freedom and picked up my paint brushes! We are living like teenagers again!”

On September 16, 2016, just before turning 56, upon reading Patton Oswald’s experience with grief, Filomena decided to embark on a challenge that changed her life. She shut down many personal and professional activities and devotedly went into 102 days of art-making. The experience evoked a depth and scope of inner exploration that many would find challenging and difficult to commit to and yet wish to partake in.

Since July 2016, she has sold numerous pieces. She has shown her work in Toronto, and in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Filomena has many people to thank for supporting her throughout this fascinating process of going inside, loving herself and finding her way back to art.