My enthusiasm for the visual arts traces back decades when as a young mother, I began selling hand painted home décor at consignment shops to supplement my family’s income. Art continued to be a passion of mine when I returned to full time work as a recreational therapist. There I incorporated my artistic creativity, using several mediums, into various recreational rehabilitation therapies for teens with traumatic brain injuries, visual impairments and mobility issues.
More recently, I have been diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, which has slowly deteriorated my eye-hand coordination. As I began pursuing medical treatment for my eyes, I simultaneously took up photography, where I realized the camera lens could act as my “bionic” eye and I could “see” again. As my photography skills have improved I am once again motivated to share my artistic talent with others.
My life has been spent helping people, so accepting help for this rare eye disease was difficult for me. With state-of-the-art medical intervention from the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA and its generous supporters, I have been lucky enough to participate in an experimental research study to slow the progression of degeneration to my macula, and hopefully some day cure it.
I can never repay this wonderful gift, but as thanks, my occasional note card earnings will be donated to the research of and search for the cure of degenerative eye diseases.
A recent goal of mine is to "see" as much as possible while I still can, consequently my photographed note cards are a unique and personal reflection of my life experiences. They are inspirational, funny and serious; created with emotion, passion and dedication. I also create fancy cards and other photographed items also for sale.
Share them with everyone you care about and know that they were created with love and will continue to spread love.

Sincerely,
Debra Tosca, Photographer
supporting the visually impaired