REDLANDS, Calif.– Hanna Adler, a former veterinarian and now a recognized, award winning artist, has seen her passion for art grow from simple drawings into beautiful watercolor portraits. Adler will be one of six artists featured during the annual “Evening with the Artists” hosted by the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation on Friday, April 19.

Adler’s artistic journey began about 10 years ago when she had to leave her native Finland and her professional life as a veterinarian. She felt she had lost part of her identity, or at least the identity that she had become so used to, and had to figure out where to go from there.

“Now I was my husband’s wife moving around the world without a real purpose in life,” says Adler. “But I had this funny feeling that I wanted to create something with my hands.”

Adler and her husband moved to California in 2006 and she began to consider her new path. She came across an ad in the newspaper about a drawing class. That ad sparked her interest and prompted her to dive into this new venture of art.

“That was the start of a great passion,” says Adler. “I am so incredibly fortunate to have found a second big passion in my life, the first being animals, and through this new-found passion I also found a new identity: I am an artist.”

Adler has never had any formal training, but she thanks and admires the artists that have taught her during local classes. They were able to teach her techniques that are evident in her soft and personal portraits, and they inspired her to continue exploring her new found passion.

Adler is a member of many art associations because she enjoys the company of fellow artists sharing the same passion and appreciates the advice and guidance she gets from them. She has entered her paintings in local art shows and began getting recognition and awards early on.

The RCH Foundation’s Art Program began in 1978, and today, the hospital exhibits a collection of more than 750 works of original art in the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation’s Art Collection.

Adler joins regional artists Dennis Hare, Tony Radcliffe, Penny Fedorchak, Darlene Katz, and Ray Nordwall at the fifth annual “Evening with the Artists” event. Adler’s artwork will be available for purchase at the Stan and Ellen Weisser Education Pavilion on the RCH campus from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19. Proceeds will benefit the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation’s Art Fund. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served during the evening’s elegant event. Tickets are $20.

For more information on the “Evening with the Artists” event or to RSVP, please call (909) 335-5500. To see a sample of Adler’s artwork, please visit www.hannaadler.com.

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Redlands Community Hospital Foundation supports Redlands Community Hospital, which is an independent not-for-profit, stand-alone hospital.