What’s the connection between a passion for painting, love of family and a commitment to good health? Though to some these may seem an unlikely group of interests, their relationship becomes quite clear when you meet artist – and now author – Mary Lou Ferbert.

Over the past 40 years, Mary Lou has built her reputation as a well-known and loved local artist on Cleveland’s west side. She embarked on her career by studying at the Cleveland Institute of Art for 10 years, where she was captivated by transparent watercolor painting. Through the years, Mary Lou has demonstrated enthusiasm for a variety of subjects – and a strong love of Cleveland – through her artwork. Her various collections include paintings of the city’s Flats district, old-fashioned amusement parks, produce markets, greenhouses and urban botany to name a few.

“I’m very passionate about my subjects and enjoy finding things that people might not be bothered to look at,” says Mary Lou. “Over time, the ‘ordinary’ has assumed greater significance in my paintings. And although I draw inspiration from many different areas, there is common ground among them.

“I feel that whether it’s tucked away in obscure places or perhaps sitting right under our noses, value lives with each of us. Value begets beauty,” she explains.

Her extraordinary use of transparent watercolor has gained Mary Lou recognition on a national level. Her artwork has been exhibited in the collections of many companies and art museums around the country for decades. Today, Mary Lou is stretching her talents from artist to author, recently publishing some of her most private and beloved works in a new book entitled, “Book of Hearts.”

Book of Hearts is a self-published collection of highly personal Valentines that Mary Lou painted during a period of twenty-five years as gifts for her family. The coffee-table style book includes 20 images, each accompanied by an essay Mary Lou wrote to describe their significance. Over time, the Valentines became a way for Mary Lou to record and pass along pieces of family history, honoring people and events that have a special place in her heart.

“Every year, my kids would look forward to receiving the new Valentine, which would bring back fond memories of places we visited, times we shared or people we loved,” says Mary Lou. “It was hard to let go of such personal pieces, but it felt right to do it now. Using the proceeds to help a cause dear to my husband and me made the decision easier.”

The Ferbert’s consider Lakewood Hospital a treasured asset in the community. It is because of this that they are donating all proceeds from this printing of Book of Hearts to Lakewood Hospital Foundation for the benefit of the Rehabilitation Program at Lakewood Hospital.

Medicine has been an enduring presence throughout Mary Lou’s life. In fact, before becoming a devoted mother and successful artist, Mary Lou studied to become a doctor at Duke University Medical School. Four generations of her family, the Mulligans, have practiced medicine, many of those years spent treating patients and interacting with the staff at Lakewood Hospital. Her husband, Fred, has also been affiliated with Lakewood Hospital for many years as a Foundation trustee.

More recently, Fred has spent a great deal of time during the last year or so as a patient at the hospital. “Our family has benefited from the skill, care and compassion provided to all the patients at this institution,” notes Mary Lou. “Lakewood Hospital is a special place because it’s so personal. The care is so great and loving there.”

According to Mary Stilphen, director of Rehabilitation Services, the funds from Book of Hearts will be used to purchase new equipment that will keep the hospital’s Rehabilitation Program on the cutting edge. “There’s always something innovative on the horizon however the funding to acquire new equipment and technologies isn’t always readily available,” says Stilphen. “It will be so nice to have this fund to tap into when we see something that will improve our service to patients.” And Mary Lou and Fred were happy to have the funds from the book donated specifically to the Rehabilitation Program because, according to Mary Lou, it fits with their life’s philosophy.

“Our marriage has been absolutely without a health event until now, and I believe it’s because we are both very committed to staying healthy. We’ve tried to instill that in our kids and our family,” explains Mary Lou. “Helping people out of trouble, pushing them and keeping them well is what rehab is all about. It seemed to me that everything was right about doing this.”

Book of Hearts premiered April 3 with a book signing at the hospital and is available through Lakewood Hospital Foundation. To obtain a copy or get more information, visit lakewoodhospital.org/bookofhearts or call 216.529.7009.