Needing a distraction from obsessing about house issues, and having an hour to kill I decided to try my hand at the easel and paints. It’s been over a year since my last painting effort and you’d think any injury might have cleared up by now. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’ve discovered that I can manage about 30 minutes without apparently doing any damage, even though it hurts. There is something about holding your arm in front of the body and carrying its weight that puts pressure on the back and neck. In fact the front part of my deltoid muscle doesn’t fire very effectively anymore; I guess it gave up in disgust as I asked it to hold the position for hours and years at a time. Having said that I’m not unpleased with the result of my 3x30 minute sessions and with maybe two more I’ll have a painting. The subject won't appeal to everyone but it's been rattling around in my head for awhile.
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| African buffalo at Nottens Bush Camp |
Thirty minutes limits might be a good way to keep the work fresh as I won‘t be worrying about perfection or any one painting will drag out for months.
I feel good about the renewed smell of oil paint.
I’ve also committed myself to a more comprehensive yoga routine, shoulder stands and all, to see if I can build my strength back. That also hurts but no worse than not doing it and I keep the head and shoulder stands short.
On another good note, after the gloomiest March on record and the coldest April on record, we are finally putting 4 or 5 days of sunshine together. We hope.
2 comments:
I say "amen" on the sunshine. And I am happy on your behalf about the positive steps forward. Sometimes strict restrictions bring artistic development — as Keats said about sonnets "I play my best tennis on a court."
Could be the same for you.
Or... could you paint with a canvas on the floor?
You paint well while in pain. Quite a different subject for you, love the colors.
Sorry you're still having such trouble, maybe the yoga will help.
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