Todays question comes from Doeeie:
“I wonder if you can advise me,please.I use to paint etc right handed but a stroke has left me with only my left side including my arm and hand.moveable.I want to start drawing and painting again..I have attempted to draw again as a start, but find I get frustated at the slow progress, Can you advise anything,please.”
Do you have any information that may help Doeeie? Please leave your response in the comments box below. Thanks!
This may sound crazy but there are many people who are painting and sketching with their toes. It takes some time to get the muscles limbered up and it feels really awkward but if you are right sided then you can use your right toes. Just have fun. Eventually you will be able to use your left hand. Maybe your occupational therapist has some ideas for you too.
Bless you on your road to recovery.
I am a right handed beginner, who is struggling to learn to draw and paint, so I really have no advice…..just empathy. I believe that you will be able to do it a lot quicker than I, because your brain was already programmed for it. It just takes a little time. Consider it abstract art until you get to the place where you want to be.
This may not have been of much help, but I hope it gives you HOPE
Tammy xxx
Hi Doeeie
Sorry to hear of your stroke. It must be very frustrating for but I am sure with practice you will re-train your brain/hand co-ordination. I have a friend with severe Parkinsons, ans she has trained her hands not to shake whilst drawing and painting, so I am sure it can be done. Keep trying
I’m no expert, but these things may help:
Instead of using small paint brushes and pencils, try using
fat crayons and markers, which are easier to hold. Or larger sized paint brushes.
Learning and building your technique will be a slow process,
but don’t get discouraged….get a large canvas or paper and try finger and hand painting, dipping your hands or fingers in the paint and making shapes on your support. Play with it.
Then you may want to try doing artwork like landscapes in which there is more room for experimentation, and not trying to do things like portraits or still life.
Also, practicing with a coloring book is good thing to build eye hand coordination…go get some coloring books. You don’t even have to stay in the lines at first, just do strokes of color. For finer detail, Dover publications has coloring books with intricate designs you could do as your skill increases. Hope this helps some.
Be happy…even though you may never do art exactly as you did before, you can now explore new ways to express your talent!
Try painting instead of drawing for now. You may get faster results by painting as you don’t have to rely on detail as much. Then when you feel you are ready you can refine your work. You can also start a painting put it aside and when you get better you can add in the finer detail.
Hi ,
many congratultions for your courage! you are brave and not bending against any challenges…because you are brave and courageous you, yourself will find the most suitable way out! but most important help will be provided by “your own wish to paint”.
so let the that desire burn inside you and start working with another hand,
initially it wont come perfactly but with your will it will turn out great work..wish you all the very best!
just GO FOR IT
Margie,Tammie,Indolman,R.W.,Cyndy,Alka,
Many thanks for your advice and encouagement.I asure you I have taken all on board. I am giving drawing ago at the present,doing it up-side down,so things are just a shape.I am also trying paint again but experimenting with different holds.Thank you all for your advice. Dorrie.
Margie,Tammie,Indolman,R.w.,Cydndy.Alka,
take a canvass and pour your Favorited colors and with a pallet knife spread the paints on canvass look for some similarities with figures you know and finish it this is
faster and better this is practiced by some big artists