Non-Dominant Hand Drawing
Gel Pen and Pitt pen
in my left handed moleskine
I have always been a klutz, but this weeks topic had me remembering much of the last year in which I was recuperating from a broken wrist. I call my left hand the stupid step sister of the right, but I was forced to function left-handed almost exclusively for several months while my right hand was healing. Of course my biggest fear was that it would not heal completely and that it would hamper my ability to make and teach art. I still had about three months of the school year to get through at the time which was challenge enough. However, my students were very understanding and patient, and we completed the semester without much hindrance.
One of the things I did to perk myself up and feel better about the whole disaster was to start a left-handed sketchbook. All the drawings and writing are done entirely with my left hand. It is far from full, but I still occasionally add entries into it and really enjoy the challenge of working with a clumsy, less than obedient hand. I admit to being much more sympathetic to my students when they break limbs now. Every year there is at least one or two who do. Now I pull out my left-handed sketchbook to give them a little extra encouragement that they can continue to make art and make it through the year.
I am including several of the earliest sketches below, chronicling the healing process. Click on any of the pictures to view them larger. Have a happy and SAFE week everyone!
This is something I dread happening and I've even tried to use my left hand for a while just to see - but there is no way I could draw the way you have done, they are great drawings.
ReplyDeleteI love how all the bad habits you developed with your usual hand of choice are gone when you use the other hand it may be more clumsy but also less inhibited!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Cheers!
Em
Wow, this is great. I used to use this as an exercise with students and did it regularly myself, though not as well. I also used to write with my left hand and write backwards. I think it is a good exercise for the brain. Guess I should start doing it again. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteSo creative! I love your left-handed sketchbook! Thanks for sharing the backstory to these.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! You are so talented! I'm astounded that you could draw all off that with your non dominant hand. And I love your image for clumsy, those little drawing figures have always tickled my fancy. Great job!
ReplyDeletethank you for your comment on my illustration friday piece.... I had a life drawing teacher that had us do this in class as well... it helps you to see the form rather then the details... nice job on these drawings...
ReplyDeleteWow, can't believe you did these with your non-dominant hand! I do terribly at that, awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteI love your drawings. I can't believe you did those with your non-dominant hand!
Are all those done left handed? They look great which ever. Sometimes we do not know how truly resilient we can be. I used to play around with drawing either hand for fun and not for long. It is a real brain teaser. I would not like to have had to do it for real. Glad you are in fine health now.
ReplyDeleteLove your take on the IF topic and a good story to go with it :)
ReplyDeleteWay to go lefty! Great illustration!
Um, you're awesome, I can't even draw like that with my dominant hand. That drawing of the thing that broke your wrist looks scary... what the heck is it? How did your wrist get in it's way?
ReplyDeleteI like your diversity, These works show a good sense of composition and are very strong. One of the fellows I paint with often works with his 'wrong' hand. He alos draws with charcoal wired to long pieces of bamboo to loosen him up.
ReplyDeletetotally amazing that you can do that with your left hand.
ReplyDelete