Suicide Survivor Opens His Heart, Gives Freely

“Renaissance Man” is the apt way to describe Randy Chumbley - an accomplished author, painter and artist. Having done great work for other Atlanta charities in the past, Randy joins ARTvision for the first time, offering “Fast Forward” for the full benefit of Positive Impact.

The piece is a dramatic-yet-nuanced, abstract painting on wood panel - one of our larger and most imposing pieces this year. His artwork is only one facet of who Randy is.


”Fast Forward” by Randy Chumbley


In 2009, Randy published the best-selling “Alabama Snow,” a chilling and heartbreaking account of the time around the death of his mother, who had been consumed by substance abuse and mental illness. Here’s a description from his website:

Artist and writer James Randall Chumbley comes out of hiding after three years since his last bestseller with his most revealing book ever, Alabama Snow. The author has written a tender, heartbreaking story of how his mother lost her dreams—growing up poor, the daughter of a sharecropper cotton farmer in rural Alabama—and his attempts of trying, for years, to save her from mental illness and alcoholism. Plus, his own struggles with facing the break-up of the love of his life, whom he met just a month after his mother’s death, which almost pushed him to suicide. Find out how a message of hope from her saved her beloved son from meeting the same end as his father. Anyone whose life has been touched by mental illness will find something worthwhile in this narrative. James has opened his heart and soul, holding nothing back for the reader.


His follow up, “Winter Flesh,” to be released in 2012, will be as personal and revealing as its predecessor. (read the press release) In 2009, he did a reading of this book at Outwrite Bookstore and donated one of his paintings to Youth Pride. As he describes in his press release:

“YouthPride’s Evolve! program is very important to me as a survivor of attempted suicide myself,” he said. “The crisis of suicide is an important yet often a misunderstood issue, one that many people in Atlanta struggle with daily, including members of the LGBTQ community. I was brought back to life after lying dead in the emergency room of Grady Memorial Hospital, having being worked on for five hours. Now, I want to do what I can to make a difference so others can get the help they need and avoid the choice I made.”


We are grateful to have Randy as a contributor and volunteer for Positive Impact through ARTvision.


“Fast Forward,” a mixed-media painting on wood board, is offered at $3,000 and is recommended for Atlanta buyers only. (reserve now)

For more on Randy:
main website | art website | “Alabama Snow” on Amazon | contact the artist

Please join us on 1 December 2011 at The Phillip Rush Center for ARTvision Atlanta’s first standalone event. As always, 100% of proceeds benefit Positive Impact. (RSVP on Facebook or Evite)