M.Merite Watercolour

Today is the 34 day of the war. And it is my second day in Warsaw. I evacuated and am staying with a friend, while my family decided not to leave. Although I am fine physically, the mental trauma is still here and the worry about those in Ukraine drives me crazy.

You know, while you are inside, your feelings are frozen and kortisol and other stress hormon levels are high and make you move and act in order to survive. You seem and appear to be fine. But when you manage to get out, the contrast between the peaceful life and the one you lost is overwelming. The chemical balance in a body also changes, and emotions and physical exhaustion hit you.

I began feeling a huge pain and hatred and depression. So please forgive me, I will not be kind and socially applousable in the nearest future.

Good news! I managed to take my working tools and paintings with me, so fingers crossed I will start shipping again as soon as I am settled down. More or less.

Donations. Thanks to your overwelming support I was able to donate around $11500 during this month!! I never expected this! So generous of you! If you followed my donation report (link in bio), you could notice how my priorities changed. Predictably, the Etsy income has begun falling and the choice of whom to donate became even more difficult.

I decided to stuck with my friend and a very talented graphic illustrator who handles various needs in Kyiv and Kyiv region, starting with clothes to defence forces and food to those who evacuated from bombed Kyiv suburbs.

I began giving more money to small pet shelters, and animal rescue groups and zoos.

Hospitals. I cannot cover all of them, but for a couple of weeks I could buy medicines for several patients in reanimation. And I donated to first aid medical kits. We saved lifes, I hope.

My Etsy was hacked again this week, and I see that someone tryes to do it for the third time. security is rubbish and they can't help it. So I think I should accept it as another inevitable evil.
If you message me on Etsy and I do not reply, this could be a sign that I do not have access to the shop again. But do not worry, I will get back to you as soon as I can!