Using my non dominant hand

I'd be lying if I said painting with my other hand was easy.  It's not.  Nor is learning to do anything new ever totally easy.  Giving up is easy but doesn't give the same sense of satisfaction as continuing on with something new.

My most recent other hand painting.

Anyone Can Learn to Paint

Hey, if I can paint with my "other" hand while my broken arm heals, you can surely learn to paint with your dominant hand.  This little gem was done by a guy who swore he had never painted before.  This painting was done in one of my one day workshops.  He was not the exception.  Most of the students produced wonderful paintings and YES you can start out painting successful portraits.

Painting with my non-dominant hand

I am a person who talks with her hands and having to keep one arm immobile is a real challenge. Today marks 3 1/2 weeks of being in a sling and I tell you it feels like three years!!!  I have been fortunate though to have taken my watercolors and acrylics on this extended vacation with me.  I have not attempted to paint with acrylics yet but my watercolors have been quite the experience.

I found that I am very wobbly with my brush unless I place a few fingers on the paper to help stabilize my hand.  I started with flowers, moved on to dogs and finally decided to attempt a face.  since I didn't have a model, I painted out of my imagination.  Not great but surely not bad.

I have a way to go until my broken arm heals enough to where I can use it again so in the meanwhile I continue to paint with my left hand.  Here are a few commissioned "other hand" pieces.