Letting go

 


Giving a picture away always brings mixed emotions. I am of course delighted and amazed that someone should want the picture and it is such a joy to think it will be treasured and on display in someone’s house.  So much better than sitting unseen in a pastel pad gathering dust. This has always been my view. 

But each picture I draw has a synergy between me and the dog or person. I feel a connection especially to the dogs that I have  been drawing, an empathy and a love and compassion for them. When I frame a picture I feel proud of it. It seems to come to life even more. When I send it off to live with someone else I feel as if a bit of my heart goes too.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Delighted

Image
 I drew this pastel of the wonderful, happy Arto and am so delighted to see it framed and know that this sweet and precious dog has been rescued and will now have the happiest life. There is something lovely when a dog looks at you and you look at a dog and you see each other. I have not met these dogs in person but feel there is so much to be discovered when you look in their eyes and see their beauty, even in a photo. It is a joy to me to try and express this through pastel. https://pennypawsrescue.org.uk/2023/02/20/gorgeous-arto/
Read more

Annie

Image
 I was asked to draw this beautiful graceful dog, Annie. I was not sure I would be able to capture her likeness especially as her fur has tiny dark flecks in it, not easy to convey, but as with all my art, I never know if I can until I try. It was a joy to work with my favourite pastels and so very pleased with the result. Just after I had finished, I was paralysed by noise and was unable to move my hands and feet. It is incredibly wonderful to find moments of artistic expression are possible in a sea of unending pain and such frequent total inability to move. There is something truly wonderful about creating something beautiful that did  not previously exist. I find the process awesome and inspiring as well as challenging me to grow.
Read more

Difficulties in drawing

Image
  There are quite a few hurdles I need to overcome in order to draw a pastel. Hand to eye coordination is mostly tricky, difgicult or not posdible. My hands and fingers are always numb to varying degrees. They slso burn with pain and throb frequently. My eyes are blurry and it is hard to focus. Several times a day or all day I can be paralysed partially or totally, near paralysed, or too weak to move. My mind is blanked by each paralysis and I cannot necessarily see or understand or receive and edpress information. And then there is the head pain, switching sides, left, right, top, back of head, neck, limbs all throbbing in unison. It is quite miraculous that I can ever  draw at all. Then there are literally brief moments in a month when I can see a bit more clearly, I might hold a pastel and look at a picture and try to draw it. I have to be very quick. Any sound or movement or surprise can knock me back into blankness and paralysis once more and the rest of the day is stolen...
Read more