© 2013 Hannah Phelps
Engulfed
oil on canvas, 6" x 9"
To which I maturely roll my eyes and say, "whatever." As a right-handed artist, I am going to continue to use and over-use as necessary.
But maybe not at first.
After a few months away from painting, blogging, printmaking, and other activities I enjoy but aren’t art related, I am feeling better. My right hand is no longer numb and my elbow rarely hurts. My shoulder still hurts sometimes. I am trying to be careful. I don't always know what that means.
For instance, there was a period during recovery when I knew I could a start working again, but I was a little scared. What if I relapse? What if I discover that I can’t make art without re-injury or pain?
I avoided my easel and carving tools and a possibly painful answer. Plus, there was this monster of a question:
What if I have lost all my skills and only produce junk?
I admit that I let these fears control me for a few weeks and I’m not really ashamed of that.
But eventually, I had to climb back on the horse, jump into the pool, take the first swing....
Stop talking about it and pick up a brush, dip it into paint and swipe it at some canvas. Just to see what would happen.
So I did. And it was bad. Really, really bad. And I stepped away again for just a bit.
When I returned a second time, I set some boundaries:
Paint small.
Work for an hour at most and then stop for a while.
When I feel tired, just put the brushes down and leave the studio - there is no need to clean up right away.
If I want to paint more later, do it.
Armed with these rules, good things started to happen. After a few bad little paintings, I started creating some good ones.....
That is enough reading for now. Enjoy this little seascape for a few days and I will tell you the rest of the story later!
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