So, I have been on house arrest for seven weeks and it's made me almost crazy with restlessness. I am physically pretty active, as much (if not more) for my mental as my physical health, so when I developed a wicked case of plantar fasciitis in February I thought I was going to lose my mind. Spring is traditionally the time of year I lose my mind anyway, and taking away my most successful coping mechanism (exercise) felt like a death sentence. Hyperbole aside, it's been a long stretch but I have not wasted it. I am now a self-educated 'expert' in bio-mechanics of the foot -- and my wallet is a little lighter because of it, heh.
While comparing/contrasting suicide strategies (am I overstating my case yet? :)) I have also been painting small (11" x 14") landscapes in oil, based on photos I've taken this winter. Pretty good therapy once I got over myself and decided that every painting need not be a masterpiece of style, drama and je ne sais quoi.
Solid little landscapes are honest and worthwhile in their own right. These are all studies in the interesting atmospheric conditions, muted tones and filtered light of winter on the west coast, from the Fraser Valley up to Whistler. Feedback welcomed.
12 comments:
I like 1, 2 and 5, from the top.
How's the foot now? ( And the weather?)
Sorry to hear about the plantar stuff..nasty...I am fighting bottom of feet problems myself...heels, arch, bunion...I need to do something about it or I'll be out for weeks like you...hope its healed well.
One painting REALLY speaks to me Andrea and that is the 2nd one. I LOVE it...makes be home sick actually...I know WHERE that is...love the tone!
Di: Foot's getting there. Greg ran a half marathon on the weekend and part of it was through slush! Oh yeah, this late spring is taunting me.
Sheila: Just talk to Dr. Andrea if you need advice. Thinking of hanging out a shingle now. :) And that was the first painting I did of the five. Photographs a bit weird; some nice tonal/texture stuff in real life.
I can empathize as I suffer from neuropathic pain with my MS which has made the soles of my feet so painful that walking on the treadmill or along the canal has ceased, but luckily I am still able to use the rowing machine. I like 1 & 5, but I think 3 is my favourite. Sending healing vibes ~~~ your way.
Absolutely LOVE that last painting! !!!
#3 and #5... with I think 5 being my fave. I love your leafless trees!
I sure hope your foot clears up (90% of PF does go away spontaneously within a year or two). I've had PF in both feet since July of '99. Short of surgery and steroid injections (both of which seem to have a checkered success history), I've done everything you can for treatment. And it is still there. Gotten to the point where I live with it 24/7 and can pretty much ignore it. However, I've developed neuropathy and have to take meds to sleep... the tingly burning crap is very distracting when you are trying to fall asleep!!
Sending healing vibes from here as well.
The first one and the last are my favs. I love the way my eye moves around the first piece and that brilliant shot of red on the right hand side. You should feel absolutely pleased with yourself they look great. Sorry about the foot...I feel that once I hit 48 it was unusual if I didn't have anything going on ...but that's just me...
There's something very soul-soothing about a simple landscape painting, I think. I really like the colors in all of them, but that last one is my favorite.
I hope you're able to get back to walking regularly again. When your feet are in pain, everything suffers. I had the same thing a few years back, and I'll never take my feet for granted again.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Michelle: Thanks Michelle and yay! Someone likes #1 (my favourite). I have an old friend with MS who used to be very active. makes my paltry concerns seem like peanuts.
Paula: It's that creepy mystery surrounding it, right?
Pam: Weirdly enough, it's almost like writing that last night released the demons. After 2 months of this it is so much better this morning. No running marathons for me, though. This has scared me into being careful. I think learning to tape my foot + the evil night splint are the two biggest helps. If I was forced to work on my feet like you I'd always wear the night splint I think, in spite of its cumbersomosity. :)
Melody: Thanks -- those two were the hardest to get right so I'm glad you like them since I decided to stick with them in spite of wanting to toss them each at one point. As for this aging business, now I know why old people are always talking about their health! :)
Angela: Me neither! I had no idea how hard it would be to give up the daily dog walks on top of everything else. Hard on the dog, too, though getting others to do it hasn't been as hard as I'd imagined.
I really like them all. Favorite(s)? 1, 2 and 5.
I hate it when we get one of those cosmic sit-stays. I wonder what the dogs think.
Cosmic sit-stay is the perfect description!
I'm late to the party with this comment, having just found your blog. Your house arrest situation reminded me of mine a number of years ago, when I was recovering from having both my hands operated on for carpal tunnel syndrome. I usually spend my days in my studio, with my camera, at the barn or doing stuff in the yard in summer (which this was) and none of that was possible. When the hands were finally able to deal with a dog leash but not much else, I spent so much time walking the dogs that I developed plantar fasciitis in both feet. I feel ( and have felt) your pain.
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