Former Marine Jess Rambo Finds Healing Through Art, Bringing Hope to Fellow Veterans

Jess Rambo, a former U.S. Marine, walked into the veterans rehab center near her Greensboro, North Carolina, home with her service dog, Bella, in tow and carrying bags of art supplies.

Since childhood, Jess has loved expressing herself through art. But instead of pursuing her passion, she followed her dad, mom and five uncles into military service. For 10 years, she used her skills as part of a Marine photography/video unit, documenting battlefields and natural disasters around the world.

But in 2016, a vehicle accident left Jess with a broken hip and a traumatic brain injury. After receiving a medical discharge, she lapsed into depression and then addiction. But the single mom of two—Skylar and Liam, then 9 and 6, respectively—was determined to move forward. After seeking in-patient treatment, she got Bella through Semper K9, an organization that matches wounded warriors with service dogs, and decided to enroll in art school. Jess focused on ceramics, sculpture and metal fabrication. It proved to be a powerful healing tool.

One of her courses was community-based art practices, where students established art programs at local hospitals, nursing homes and community centers. Given Jess’ military history, her instructor sent her to the veterans rehab center.

Jess loved helping other vets learn to communicate and express emotions they’d long kept bottled up inside. So much so she wanted to help even more veterans and decided to take her mission on the road. 

Spreading hope

Jess bought an old school bus, revamped it and, in April of 2018, she and her kids loaded the “Painted Buffalo Traveling Studio” with home-schooling books, ammo cans filled with art supplies, two dogs, one cat and a gecko and set off on a cross-country adventure. 

Along the way, Jess used social media to reach out to veterans across the country. Let’s spend the day together, and I’ll show you how to express yourself creatively and use art to communicate and heal, she posted.

That first year, Jess and the kids traveled through 38 states, meeting up with vets in their homes, parks or other safe places. Some vets sketched or did watercolors. Others worked with clay or pieced together collages. 

One former vet named John found it easier to share his feelings while he whittled a tree limb into a walking stick.

Army vet Brad Hoffman directed his creative impulses toward making T-shirts and tattoos. “When I get stressed or depressed, Jess taught me that focusing on something creative can help you break out of the loop of negative emotions,” he says.

Former search and rescue specialist Lauryn Dougherty relieved her stress by roasting coffee beans in an old popcorn maker. “That’s your art,” Jess encouraged. 

Soon Lauryn was sending Jess bags of coffee to add to the ammo cans of art supplies that she leaves with each vet. Lauryn was so inspired, she went on to form a nonprofit Cracked Armor Coffee Roasters to raise funds for veteran organizations.

Jess loves that she has such a life-changing effect on so many veterans. Each art session ends with a handshake or a hug and a bond for life.

Community of love

After working with thousands of veterans across the country, last year, Jess and her kids, now 16 and 13, were ready to settle in one place, but not ready to stop helping veterans. After buying 6 acres near Adairsville, Georgia, Jess parked the Painted Buffalo and is now hard at work establishing a veterans’ artists retreat, where she hosts meetups and workshops. She plans  to add cabins where vets and their loved ones can spend quality time in a community of
healing and support.

“I wasn’t done serving my country, so I found a new way,” says Jess. “I don’t have all the answers, but what I do understand is the healing power of art.”