On this month's cover is a watercolor painting, Human, by Ohio artist Jim Leitz. Created in March, the painting is a tribute to the experiences of frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I had been participating in an art challenge to create 14 pieces of art in 14 days, each day with a different theme. The theme for this day was 'human,'" Leitz says, explaining the painting's origin. "I was concerned about the impact of the pandemic on our health care professionals, and while watching a newscast I became very emotional. I found myself trying to imagine the physical and mental strength it has to take, along with all the emotions they must handle."
Human depicts a hospital worker sitting with a patient-whose fate Leitz leaves up to the viewer's interpretation, along with the meaning of the light streaming down from above. "My focus was on the provider, trying to capture their physical and mental burden."
Another painting by Leitz, Get Them What They Need!, is featured in this month's Art of Nursing column. To see more of his work, visit http://www.jimleitzart.com.-Diane Szulecki, editor