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.
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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