The Other Hand

The day after my last post I tripped, fell and broke my right humerus up into the shoulder.  How life can change in a second.  One minute I am mailing off a commissioned painting, the next I am trying to get up from the concrete sidewalk with the aid of one arm.  A trip to the ER, X-rays and a simple, undersized sling and I'm sent home.  Well, not actually home as we were in the very early days of a three month vacation.

My plans were to spend the summer months painting and attending about a dozen plays which we already had tickets.  I have new found sympathy for people who have broken bones, especially on their dominant side.  I haven't felt pain like that in a long time.  I also never realized just how much I use my right hand and arm.  We are waiting to see if it heals with the warning that a shoulder replacement is on the horizon.

What was I to do all summer I asked as I sat staring at my art materials.  I couldn't sign an X with my left hand, how in the world was I to paint.  Oh well, I had nothing to lose so I thought why not and I started to paint the wild red poppies I was seeing all around this area.  I won't kid you, I felt very spastic and the going was very slow but it was a heck of a lot better than sitting and feeling sorry for myself.  I painted almost every day eventually trying my hand at painting dogs.  I have to admit, I amazed myself.

Here are a few of my "other hand" paintings.  I don't necessarily recommend breaking your arm but there is something very satisfying about doing something you never thought you'd be able to do.