Art made with love · Georgia

Every child deserves to be seen.

Canvas for Hope brings paintings to children facing cancer—each one created for the child behind the diagnosis.

See the paintings Get in touch

The mission

1,400

paintings made over more than a decade

One painting. One child. One moment of joy.

Artist Elena Makievsky began with a single painting. That gift became Canvas for Hope.

For more than twelve years, Elena painted portraits and favorite characters for children facing cancer. The paintings celebrated their personalities, interests, and dreams—and gave families a tangible reminder that their child mattered.

Along the way, there were hospital visits, painting parties, handmade gifts, and many people who helped carry the mission forward.

The paintings

Look at the children.

Every portrait was made for one child. Here are a few from Elena’s 1,400 paintings. Tap any image to see the whole canvas.

A small selection from more than a decade of painting.

A full circle story

From the first brushstroke to the last.

The first child to receive a painting was Pheonix. Years later, Elena's 1,400th painting was a portrait of Pheonix made for her brother, Jake.

That final portrait brought the journey back to where it began. Every canvas in between belongs to a child and a family whose story deserves care.

A painting can make a child smile. That is where the work begins.

From canvas to pages

Elena’s Magic Paintbrush

Elena's book draws on the real experiences and children behind her painting journey. It carries the story of Canvas for Hope to new readers. Order a signed copy with a handmade HOPE keepsake, or explore Elena’s shop.

See the signed book ↗Visit Simply Wrapped Jewelry ↗

A room full of stories

The paintings, together.

At the 1,000 Lights for Hope exhibit, visitors walked among portraits of the children. The images below show a few views from that gathering.

Two painted portraits displayed side by side at the exhibit — Portraits displayed side by side

A long exhibition wall lined with painted portraits — A wall of children’s portraits

Several children's paintings on display at the exhibit — More paintings on display

Connect

Let’s make room for more smiles.

Have a question, a story to share, or an idea for working together? Elena would love to hear from you.

Write to Elenacanvasforhope@hotmail.com

Explore her workSimply Wrapped Jewelry ↗