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!
