C26-32. Kathleen Tonnesen -Art Beyond Sight.

August 10, 2026August 5, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Kathleen Tonnesen ie Katon. On air from August 11th

An Artist’s Search for Creative Ways to Overcome Life’s Obstacles: How Shioda Yoshinkan Aikido Helped Me See Beyond the Light

In our previous interview in 2018, Kathleen Tonnesen publicly shared her journey with vision loss—an experience she found deeply helpful. Since then, practising Shioda Yoshinkan Aikido has opened a new path in her rehabilitation and artistic development.

Kathleen believes the discipline and intense focus of Aikido have helped her retrain her right eye to read, draw, and paint again. Although this is her personal experience rather than a medical conclusion, she feels the practice may have helped her brain develop new pathways and delayed the progression of her vision loss.

Since 2023, Kathleen has continued forging a new artistic path. Her work reflects her changing vision and explores light, balance, geometry, human interaction, and connection beyond sight. Her focus is on developing skills that expand the creative boundaries of the heart and mind.

As Kathleen says, “Your life is an unfolding rose in the bouquet of God’s love.”

Current Art Exhibition: Energy

August 7–29, 2026
Mole Pop-Up Gallery
Rear of 1157 Pendrell Street, Vancouver, BC
Access through Jepson-Young Lane
Curator: Quentin Wright

In this solo exhibition, Kathleen explores the felt sensations of balance, timing, posture, and geometry found within Shioda Yoshinkan Aikido. These works are presented alongside large botanical paintings celebrating colour, creativity, resilience, and the continuing evolution of her sight.

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Kathleen Tonnesen, known artistically as Katon, is a Canadian self-taught painter, sculptor, author, poet, and inventor. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, she immigrated to Canada in 1998. A professional artist since 1990, Kathleen creates meaningful, thought-provoking work that enriches public spaces and connects communities.

She is also a certified Shioda Yoshinkan Aikido instructor and Shodan—first-degree black belt—currently preparing for her Nidan, or second-degree black belt, test. Drawing upon her experience in psychology, early childhood education, performing arts, visual art, and martial arts, Kathleen inspires personal growth and encourages adults to rediscover their inner child.

Following vision loss, Kathleen used the discipline and intense focus of Aikido to support her rehabilitation. Through consistent practice, she retrained her right eye to read, draw, and paint again. Since 2023, her evolving artwork has explored light, human connection, and perception beyond sight.

Kathleen’s artistic roots were inspired by the charcoal portraits of her South African grandfather, Charles Holton Peers.

AMAZON

FIND KATHLEEN’S LAST SHOW WITH SARA HERE

https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/kathleen-katon-tonnesen/portfolio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleentonnesen

FIND MORE SHOWS OF ILLUMINATION HERE

All my links can be found on linktr.ee/saratroy

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TSM 19-01 Retinitis Pigmentosa does not hold Amy Bovaird back

January 1, 2019August 23, 2022Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast 5 Comments

Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Amy Bovaird, ON AIR FROM JANUARY 1ST

As the author of the Mobility Series, Bovaird uses personal experiences, faith and practical tips in her presentation “Thriving With Vision and Hearing Loss” One of the important tools for coping with adversity is attitude and Bovaird uses plenty of humorous anecdotes to illustrate her points. Bovaird doesn’t just speak. She involves the participants so that it’s a two-way sharing. A few of the topics she will address: • Diagnosis—from denial to acceptance • Faith, optimism and a positive attitude • Humorous anecdotes of coping • Practical tips for maximizing remaining vision Whether you’re vision-impaired or hard of hearing or you’re interested in learning more about vision and hearing loss, Bovaird’s presentations will give you the insights and the tools to move forward and reach out to others.

At age 28, she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and declared legally blind. RP is a hereditary, degenerative eye disease that results in blindness or near blindness. There is no cure to date. Today Amy has no peripheral vision. She jokes that she is at the end of the “tunnel” vision in her eyesight. She suffers from a dual disability: progressive vision and hearing loss, which may be due to Usher Syndrome, the leading cause of deaf blindness in the world.

JOIN SARA AND AMY HERE TO HEAR HOW SHE RISES ABOVE HER CHALLENGES AND STILL THRIVES IN A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

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Amy joined a group of blind professionals who volunteer their time to help others cope with blindness at VisionAware.org, an outreach website of the American Foundation for the Blind.

Ohio Valley University, Amy’s undergraduate institution, awarded her the Distinguished Medal of Literature for Mobility Matters.

Amy is an active member of several community groups, which include Pennwriters, West PA Authors, Toastmasters, the West County Lions Club, and the National Federation for the Blind.

Amy is also a blogger, speaker, educator and active in community organizations (Toastmasters, Lions Club, City Mission, Church Food Pantry volunteer, Humane Society advocate, Sight Center supporter, etc).
Hobbies are running, hiking, attending cultural events (esp those that have food!) and I love animals!

My first two books were part of the Mobility Series
I am currently writing the third and final book in the series, which will come out in 2019.

Also coming out in 2019 is a very personal book about my dad, Don Bovaird The Tree Man and a travel book called Falling for Ecuador: One Foot on the Equator and the Other on a Vine (Tentative subtitle)

All my books are WhisperSync ready, which means readers can switch from reading the kindle version to the audio version, often at a big discount.

Though Amy no longer teaches in the classroom, she still educates by speaking to groups about the challenges of sight loss with anecdotes of faith and humor. She blogs about her experiences in hopes of bridging gaps between the sighted and the blind. She also talks about culture and travels. In the daytime, she spoils her aging cat and works on future publications.

Amy’s memoirs include: Mobility Matters: Stepping Out in Faith, Cane Confessions: The Lighter Side to Mobility and a memoir / devotional, Seeking Solace: Finding Joy After Loss.

Other book Ideas in the works: The Light Series:

Fading Light (Losing my vision and travel)
Heavenly Light (Marriage and Miscarriage)
Traveling Light (Inspirational ‘Meetings’ in my travels)

www.AmyBovaird.com
Author Facebook Page

Twitter: Amy_Bovaird
Linked In: Amy Bovaird

Website E Commerce Book Shop

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Mobility Matters Audible.com

Cane Confessions Amazon
Cane Confessions Audible.com

Seeking Solace Amazon
Seeking Solace Audible.com

FIND MORE SHOWS OF ILLUMINATION HERE

BUY BOOK HERE

C19-01 TO SEE BEYOND SIGHT! with Kathleen Tonnesen

January 1, 2019August 2, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Kathleen Tonnesen, on air January 1st 2019.

To see beyond sight.

I was born legally blind in my left eye. I was born with an eye disease in my right eye named Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis which is a disease of the iris leading to blindness over time. I am sharing my story of courage via art creativity at the encouragement of my business coach Cresswell Walker, to whom I am very grateful for guiding me through my turbulent emotional waters 2018. This, due to the 3rd eye issue that placed all my goals and plans for business on pause for the last 6 months, while I worked to recalibrate my brain to adjust to my new way of being. Thanks Cresswell. I hope that my story may inspire and be of service to others who face challenges on their own journey.

JOIN SARA AND KATHLEEN ON TRANSITIONING TO BLINDNESS

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Kathleen Katon Tonnesen (14 July, 1963) is a Canadian painter, sculptor, inventor, author and poet. She was born in Cape Town, South Africa and immigrated to Canada in 1998. She has carved a professional career as a working artist since 1990 and is a respected international artist dedicated to the enhancement of public spaces with meaningful and thought provoking art. Excited by ideas, energy, movement and emotion, she developed a mixed media, multidisciplinary approach to her artworks, installations and live productions. She believes in allowing the creation to determine its own tools and process toward manifestation, including collaboration with musicians and cutting-edge technology. This is exemplified in her latest upcoming production, Traditional Martial Art (TMA) 2021 a family fun education 90-minute adventure via sensory experience, which utilizes immersive and interactive mixed VR technology, including her own inventions, in a touring 6000 square foot space, providing public awareness of the respectful values of martial arts.

Kathleen is a brown belt in Yoshinkan Aikido who has trained with several leading Aikido teachers in British Columbia. With a background in Early Childhood Education, psychology and acting, she strives to connect families and communities together through the language of art. Her passion is children and unleashing the child within the adult, thereby encouraging personal growth. Kathleen is dedicated to inspiring the human spirit and is a frequent guest speaker and art workshop instructor. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (major) through Thompson Rivers University. She is very diplomatic, organized, schedule and budget orientated and has a high degree of excellence in her persona which is reflected in her work.

https://youtu.be/GEiKm2wFzoE