On
Pain and Struggle, Gaining Inner Strength and Depth as an Artist,
plus the Benefits of Stepping Away to Rest
Many
folks have a misguided impression on the artist's life. Some assume
sitting in a chair and painting is easy to do. Others believe artists
sit around all day, just waiting for some great creative inspiration
to strike them, while the rest of society works hard to accomplish
their projects.
Today
I will share some of my struggles in becoming and being a visual
artist with you.
Writing
about PPD (post-painting depression) may be a great idea but I've
found it hard to accomplish. When I am coming out of a long haul,
painting extremely detailed works, I find I am too tired to focus on
a detailed writing project.
And
then when I'm more rested and feeling well, writing about this sort
of subject is difficult to do, because I'm not feeling tired or
depressed!
But
since I've recently completed a small tight piece, and have time to
write today, I'm going to give it another shot.
Here
Goes
The
Sports section was always my favorite newspaper section. Not the large team
sports so much, but reading about the individual ones.
I still like to
learn about golf, tennis, swimming, skiing, biking, triathlon,
Track and Field, among many others.
One
of my early dreams as a child was to ride horses in the Olympics. I
was a very active child - climbing trees, playing Cowboy and Indian
with my sisters, exploring the woods or just running around took up a
lot of my time.
Learning
all kinds of physical activities, discovering what I could do with
balance, staying active but also overcoming many serious injuries
have consumed huge parts of my life.
How
I have managed to become someone who now sits in a chair, keeping
very, very still for long hours is a bit of a mystery...
My
parents raised us without TV, but we would rent one for special
occasions. One came around every four years – the Olympics. I
learned much from watching and listening to Jim McKay's athlete
biographies. I still love to hear how people overcome great
challenges, to arrive at the top of their game.
The
will to compete, to challenge myself, to become better, to do the
best
I can, to physically grow and change, to shift weight and experiment
with my body – all apply in some way to what I do today, with paint
and paper.
I
have tried out at
least
twenty-eight sports in my life, for varying periods of time – and if you can really call Bowling and Croquet
“sports”!
Since
I like lists, here are all the sports I remember trying:
Tennis,
Racquetball, Swimming, Diving, Horseback Riding, Running, Walking,
Hiking, Badminton, Bowling, Golf, Biking, Rollerblading, Cross-County
Skiing, Telemark Skiing, Downhill Skiing, Ice Skating,
Baseball/Softball, Volleyball, Weight-lifting, Pilates, Snowshoeing,
Soccer, Basketball, Rollerskating, Croquet, Martial
Arts/Self-Defense, Rock-climbing.
Post-Painting
Depression
Several
years ago one of my many talented artist friends on Facebook, Cuong Nguyen mentioned he had “post-painting
depression.” Another friend told him, “I don't
understand.” So I explained it briefly. Cuong thanked me.
We
Artists understand.
Most people who have never started and completed
a large representational painting probably do not get it.
Just
to paint quality small
works is often difficult.
 |
| Looking Bullish, 5x7 watercolor by Elise, March 2015 |
Painting
highly detailed pieces requires a tremendous
amount of concentration and energy output - physically, spiritually,
mentally and emotionally.
You are always measuring value, comparing shades of color, correcting edges, size of stroke or hue of tone...
Then,
after a work is completed, or even a hard day is over, a sort of
emotional and physical let
down
occurs. Satisfaction, too, but I will often feel completely
exhausted.
How Athletics
correspond to an Artist's Challenge
Perhaps
some artists have a higher tolerance for stress or are more mentally
and physically fit who don't feel this way, but I liken painting
especially large works to an athletic event.
When
an athlete runs a full marathon, they don't go out the next day and
repeat this feat. They need to let their body rest. If they are
extreme or long distance runners, perhaps they will go even further
than a 26.2 mile marathon; but after racing either the 26.2 or a 50 or 100-mile race, an athlete
WILL need to let his body recover and rest.
The
same applies to painting large works. The strain of focusing, making
a multitude of decisions, fixing problems and striving emotionally,
internally, to catch a likeness has a taxing effect on the body and
brain.
Consistent
quality work is not achieved when you are tired and it is really
important to learn to become sensitive to what your body is saying
and needing.
Very
often, after working very hard, I step away from my desk with utterly
spent, visually but also physically.
What
Can Be Done to Rest and Recover
Sleep
is a great help, especially for the brain. A new study has shown
people getting less than seven hours each night do actual physical
brain damage to themselves! I try to sleep at least nine hours a
night, and longer when stressed.
Another
thing which helps is taking long walks, or stacking wood.
Movement
activities require some energy, but are the opposite of holding
still. They can be relaxing and mindlessly repetitive, releasing the
stress of thinking “what color, where, when” constantly, holding
arm and brush still.
I
also eat copious amounts of grass-fed unsalted butter or nuts when I
paint, because I find these high quality fats very good brain food.
Playing
a musical instrument and/or singing are also great ways to de-stress
and relax the brain.
Or I go to a favorite spot in Maine to quietly watch a sunset:
Or I go to a favorite spot in Maine to quietly watch a sunset:
Overcoming
Injury – How Pain can Change and Deepen our Lives
I
was seven when my neck was severely injured, causing pinched nerves
and a calcium deposit on my spinal column. My parents had no
knowledge of the benefits of chiropractic care, so I went six years
with an untreated sublexation. It was very painful. Due to many
additional falls from the back of our ponies, I also developed severe
low back problems.
By
fourteen, I was partially paralyzed from the waist down for a short
time, due to pinched nerves.
Then
sprains to my ankles and knees were numerous and took their toll. On
top of this, I healed VERY slowly.
While
I waited for many lower-extremity injuries to heal I could
still use my hand and arms, to paint.
Difficulty
helped create an ability.
Pain
became the “mother of invention” you might say, for my becoming
an artist. My work distracted me from the pain. And while it was not
as restful as sitting around, painting helped get me through many
hard times in life.
Painting
involves color and color is therapy!
White Oak Tree, Leaf, Fruit (Acorns) by Elise
5x7 Pen & Ink with Watercolor, 2015
Learning
to balance work and play in life is so important.
I
am encouraging you, reader, to overcome your challenges. Become more
sensitive to your body and learn to meet it's needs. Let yourself
rest and take a break after working very hard on a large project or
piece of artwork.
Sleep
and rest are blessings given by God.
Thanks
for reading and I wish you all a very fine weekend!
Your
painting-friend,
Elise
Common Peony by Elise, 5x7 Pen & Ink with Watercolor, 2015
I
will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest
me dwell in safety. ~ Psalm 4:8
It
is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of
sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep. ~ Psalm 127:2
