You are currently browsing rachelcreative's articles.
Now we’re possibly moving to a new place where we can network better it’s also an opportunity to change the name, if others feel it’s appropriate.
Here’s a reminder of what this network is about
Chronic Artists is dedicated to those creative people who have to balance their artistic practice with the challenges of life with chronic illness or pain.
They may be an artist, writer, photographer, musician or artisan. They might be severely ill or mildly affected by their chronic health condition and/or pain. They may be from anywhere in the world.
The hope is to build a network …
Also to look at some of the challenges and highlight some of the work being done by those who just happen to have chronic illness or pain …
Chronic illness and pain can make us feel isolated. Hopefully this network can let you connect with other artists who understand.
So how about a different name? Perhaps an acronym or some great name that is not obvious. After all Apple is a computer, Flickr is a photo site and Ford is a car.
Any suggestions?
Apologies for the lack of activity on the blog and in making the most of the network.
Quite a few people have struggled to sign up to the blog ring or to complete the process to allow their link to get added by the system. There isn’t a way to simplify this using the current ringsurf system so my thoughts have been to move to a different way of working to create more of a network where members can post things of interest too.
I’ve had this move on the back burner for quiet a while and hence neglecting putting energies into this blog. I felt a little overwhelmed at the idea of contacting everyone in the ring to explain the change and hadn’t even thought I could just blog about it!
So I’m hoping to make some changes in the coming months.
In the meantime if you are an artist, who also happens to have chronic illness or pain, and you would like to be included in the network and you struggle to sign up using the ringsurf system please drop me an email. Then I can at least add you to the blogroll here.
I’ll blog details as soon as I have them of the changeover and where to find the new network.
Thanks to everyone who has signed up (or tried to!).
We have new members on the blog ring so if you haven’t checked it out recently take a look at the blogroll and see what’s new.
VSA Arts has an online exhibition of Art, Disability & Expression.
As well as showing many examples of visual art it also examines some of the history and culture of disability as content. There are some powerful and fine images in the exhibition.
VSA Arts has an Artists Registry which is free to join. Represented on the registry are artists with many kinds of disabilities including chronic illness, chronic pain and long term mental illness.
The web site also has many resources for artists on the site including opportunities, career development tips (including advice on photographing work, pricing, sample contracts and more), various publications and resources for materials, adaptive tools and instruments.
Did you know that Renoir battled with rheumatoid arthritis for the last 30 years of his life?
By the last ten years of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s life he could not use crutches and needed a wheelchair. He had excruiating pain and near the end of his life had to be carried to his easel. When he lost the use of his fingers a paintbrush would be bandaged to his hand and he continued to paint despite his devastating illness.
La Promenade by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1906
There’s a great article here which tells you more about his struggle with rheumatoid arthritis through the last 3 decades of his life http://arthritis.about.com/od/art/a/renoir.htm
Madame Renoir and Bob by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1910
The following is an extract from that article:
“One must from time to time attempt things that are beyond one’s capacity.” ~ Pierre-Auguste Renoir
There were episodes when Renoir was completely paralyzed. He would allow the attack to subside, then continue where he left off at his easel. Renoir had an easel where each canvas could be rolled up like a woven product in a loom. Therefore he could cope with larger formats even though he had to sit in his wheelchair and could only move his arm in short, sudden motions to thrust the paintbrush forward.
And another extract:
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” ~ Pierre-Auguste Renoir
It has been said that although Renoir was old, sick, and decrepit there was never any despair or weariness in his art. He never allowed it to be invaded by feelings of envy or anger towards those in good health. The hundreds of works he produced during the last few years of his life were an ode to happiness and joy.
- Laundresses by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1912
All the paintings shown here were painted by Renoir when he had rheumatoid arthritis.
“For me a picture has to be something pleasant, delightful, and pretty – yes, pretty. There are enough unpleasant things in the world without us producing even more.” ~ Pierre-Auguste Renoir
By Guest Blogger: Sarah Marie Lacy, Artist http://www.smlacyart.com
That Oddball Marriage: Creativity and Illness
I’ll be honest – when Rachel first asked me to write a post about how being chronically ill affected my creativity, I drew a complete blank. I had no idea if the two even interacted, let alone affected each other. I know it seems obvious, that of course one affected the other, but it really was something that I’d never thought about before. I assumed that the two couldn’t interact – disease seems to take away from life, while creativity celebrates it. It seemed baffling enough that the two could co-exist, let alone unite.
So while I’ve always known that art was my lifeline, I wasn’t really sure if the opposite had happened – if being sick had affected how I created. But the more I contemplated it, the more I became certain that getting sick has had a strong hand in developing my creative vision. I rarely paint happy scenes, full of (to me) sickeningly sentimental themes. I will never be another Thomas Kinkade, http://www.thomaskinkade.com, or Trisha Romance, http://www.trisharomance.com (No offense to them – they can do it, people love it. It’s a win-win situation). But it didn’t ring true to me. It didn’t resonate. I’m drawn to stark views, lonely scenes and moody atmospheres. I look for delicacy, fragility and subtlety. I look for understatement and minimalism. And I always look for some sense of hope – usually blue sky breaking through storm clouds. I didn’t even realize until a few months ago that I did that. Happy, safe paintings never seemed to come from my brush because it seemed so at odds with my own life. It felt like a lie. I’m drawn to the broken, and the lonely, the transient and the fragile
And yet I’ve always searched for hope, because I think I am a natural optimist (admittedly it doesn’t always show). I want to believe in something better, a brighter day as they would say. I find myself searching for the beautiful in the broken, maybe in an attempt to make sense of my own experiences with the less than sunny side of life. I want to transform the unhappy into the exquisite. You can’t erase terrible circumstances or experiences but I believe that you can transform them. You can’t make them happy, but maybe you can heal them. Maybe you can make them beautiful. It’s about learning to appreciate all of life, the good and the bad, for the sheer fact that you are alive.
And my creativity has affected my illness as well. Ever since I made the decision to be a full time artist and put that first, my health has improved, to the extent that I am much better than I ever could have envisioned. I still have sick days and weeks but they are usually short and mostly happen when I am distracted from what I love and don’t take care of myself as well. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking a path, one that reveals itself one step at a time. I realize that sounds a little crazy. To quote the cliché, I’m “following my heart”. Cheesy but true. And I feel like as long as I’m doing that, the Universe will help me out (I realize that I am now completely off topic).
I suppose then that the answer is yes, my illness did affect my creativity, but not in a bad way – in a very good way in fact; a healing way. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
About Sarah Marie Lacy: A self taught artist, Sarah Marie Lacy works in acrylic on canvas to create emotional paintings of the English landscape and people. Diagnosed in 2001 with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, Sarah has fought back from illness, depression and suicide to pursue her art. She is now focused on painting and sharing her story with others in the hopes of inspiring them to live their best life. Aside from preparing for exhibitions, this prize-winning artist also works on commission. Prints are available for selected pieces. For more information, log on to http://www.smlacyart.com, or email smlacyart@hotmail.com.
Alvason is a photographer with CFS.
I have had chronic fatigue for ten years now. Someone asked me recently how I deal with a chronic illness. I replied that I have an optimistic outlook and I believe things will get better for me and one day I will be if not cured, at least fitter than I am now and the illness will be more manageable. source
Photo by Alvason
I still love fiddling with optical stiff – cameras especially, I have some old ones, the film kind, 20 years old and more where you fiddle with knobs and buttons and focus – focus! – back to the telescope, yay! – and everything is manual. The joy is in the process. My wife likes to ask me if the landscape has stopped moving yet (not the same as “did the earth move for you?”), as I compose the shot and look at aperture, speed etc. source
Photo by Alvason
Alvason is one of the artists who features in the Creative For A Second book.
I’m proud to have contributed to an exciting project called Creative For A Second – bringing together the artistic work of some fellow-sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME/CFIDS/Fibromyalgia). source
He also draws from time to time.
Image by Alvason
Find out more about Alvason at his blog http://alvason.wordpress.com and on his Flickr photostream.
NMJ (Nasim Marie Jafry) of Velo-Gubbed Legs has just had her debut novel published. It’s called The State of Me and draws on the author’s own experience of life with ME.
The central character is a 20 year old student struck down by a mystery illness which leaves her debilitated and bed-ridden.
“She is eventually diagnosed with M.E, a cruel illness that she must learn to live with over the next decade. All of her relationships are tested and changed by her condition, but Helen s story is so much more than an account of her suffering. Far from it.
The State of Me explores the loneliness and chaos of one of the most misunderstood illnesses of our time, but also celebrates the importance of family, friendships, and sexual love.”
Available from Amazon UK and Amazon.com and I imagine lots of other bookstores too (ISBN 1906321051)
Read more about the novel and the author on her blog.
By Guest Blogger: Sarah Marie Lacy, Artist http://www.smlacyart.com
Learning Curve: How Screwing Up My Life Was the Best Thing I Ever Did
Part Two: How to Explode Your Life and Pick Up the Pieces
Step 1: Make At Least One Really Dumb Choice
The summer before my grade 12 year, I began dating my first boyfriend. Let’s call him Alex. To say Alex was a bad choice would be like saying World War I was only a very small misunderstanding. His own best friend warned me to just pretend I’d never met him. But we already know what I do when someone tells
me not to do something…
And so I chose to begin an incredibly toxic relationship, where both of us acted with very little sense.
My whole senior year of high school is something that I’m still trying to erase from my memory. At the end of September, I had a bizarre, stroke-like seizure and spent a day in emergency. It was one of the scariest times of my life. I thought I was going to die. The doctors couldn’t find a single thing wrong with me.
I became incredibly sick after that. I eventually got a diagnosis for the weird seizure (post-syncopal fatigue if you’re interested). I was home schooled for the rest of the semester, and at the end, was informed by the school system that it was no longer an option for the second semester, so I dropped out of
school.
Step 2: Give Away Your Power and Go Find Rock Bottom
I was depressed. I’d been depressed before, but this was much, much worse. I could no longer understand the point of my life. I cried pretty much every day. I was trying to work through it, all the while trying to maintain my relationship with Alex, which got rapidly more toxic and stupid. I was overwhelmed. Alex
soon became my reason to live, despite the fact that everyday he was getting colder and colder. Result = I felt even more pathetic and ashamed of myself.
The day after my 18th birthday, I nearly committed suicide. I was in my bathroom, sitting on the ground, calculating how many pills I would have to take. But a small voice inside wouldn’t let me. In an ironic twist of fate, I didn’t want to hurt Alex, and was afraid of damaging his frail mental state. I wish I was kidding you. Messed up, eh?
Step 3: Kick the Victim Mentality to the Curb
Anyway, between him, my family and my friends, I just couldn’t do it. I decided at that point to deal with my depression, although I was going to do it so that Alex and I could be happy together, not for myself. About a month later, Alex and I began our 2 month long break up odyssey, which, in typical fashion, was incredibly dumb. But that’s an entirely different post.
Two years later, I’ve got my life semi-back together. Most importantly, I’m living for myself again. I’m working as an artist, doing what I love and I’m in a relationship with an incredible guy. I’ve graduated
high school, albeit a bit late. I’m not perfect – some days, I still have trouble believing in myself, and I let the negative thoughts win. I still live at home, and I’m not stinking rich, but for the most part, I’m happy.
So why am I telling you all of this? Because my story is one so many have experienced. Maybe its one that some of you are experiencing right now. I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is always hope to create a better, happier, healthier life. I am no different, no stronger, or more special than you are. I’m probably more screwed up than you. I collect cacti for Pete’s sake. I name them. So you can turn your life around too. You can have something better. More than that, you deserve something better.
So stand up to that voice in your head that says you’re useless and pathetic and less than everyone else. Punch it in the nose. Recognize it for the scummy troll it is. And get out there. Be happy. Because this is no dress rehearsal, folks. Make the most of it.
By Guest Blogger: Sarah Marie Lacy, Artist http://www.smlacyart.com
Learning Curve: How Screwing Up My Life Was the Best Thing I Ever Did
Part One – 3 Ways to Cope Really Badly with Chronic Illness
Life is a funny thing. You never really know where it’s going to take you. And often times, the journey is a lot bumpier than you’d like. Much, much bumpier.
In January 2001, six weeks before my 13th birthday, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I didn’t really understand what that meant, I just knew that I felt like crap and wanted to sleep. A lot.
I really didn’t understand how to cope and I made a lot of mistakes those first few years. I thought I’d share some of the most spectacular ones with you, in the hopes that if you haven’t done these yet, you won’t!
Method #1 – Shut off!
I became a ghost for that first six months. My coping system was to just shut off and tune out. I was a straight A student, a dedicated dancer, and had recently started French Immersion, a rigorous program where students take the majority of their lessons in, obviously, French. I was used to being able to do everything, and easily. Now the only thing I could do was lie there. I wanted to stop living.
Method #2 – Punish yourself for being sick!
In grades 7 and 8, I missed 186 days of school. I’m almost proud of that number. I was so ashamed of my abysmal performance in grade 7 (a 75% average! Gasp!), that I pushed myself as hard as possible in grade 8, finishing with an 86% average. I was mortified; a failure. A 90% average was what I wanted, and nothing less was acceptable.
Method #3 – Push yourself beyond your physical limits!
When I first became ill, apparently my teachers seriously discussed not letting me continue with the French Immersion program. Once I heard that, I became twice as determined to show everyone that I wasn’t entirely useless. I decided to continue with the program into high school, despite having to travel across the city. Looking back, I was a bit like the short, balding, unattractive man who buys the most expensive red sports car he can find – I felt like I had something to prove.
Photo by blakjakdavy
Some people loved their high school years. I’m still trying to block most of mine out. I think I had one semester I fully enjoyed. Those first few years, I worked myself into the ground. I would take the bus at 7:45am to school, come home at 4:15pm , and do homework for another 4-6 hours just to keep up. I would disappear for weeks at a time, so burnt out I couldn’t get out of bed. Add on to that peers who didn’t understand, and some very clueless teachers, and some days I would come home on the brink of tears. A guidance counselor once asked me if I couldn’t just “ignore it”. Trust me – I tried.
Half way through my grade 11 year, I gave up. I couldn’t take the bus ride, the demand of the schoolwork or the harassment from people any longer. I wanted to go back to my old group of friends, the ones who’d known me before I got sick. I needed to get back to my roots. I switched to the high school near my house, and it was the best damn decision I’ve ever made. The second half of my junior year was fantastic – I was happier, healthier, my grades shot up, and I even got a part-time job at a diner.
Only I could screw up times this great.
But to find out exactly how I manage to do that, you’ll just have to wait for the next post.
Post by RachelCreative – RachelCreative
What made you become an artist?
I think it’s something that just a part of me. I got interested in painting in my late teens when I did A-Level art. I loved it. It’s one of those rare things in life where I get totally immersed in what I’m doing. It sparks a life inside me I don’t feel in many other things.
Painting from 1992 A-Level art
I didn’t pursue art in my degree choosing instead to study media production. Into my twenties through various twists I lost touch with the art side of myself. I tried to dabble through my twenties but had lost the confidence and connection with it. Into my early thirties I couldn’t help but feel something was missing. I wanted more out of life than to go the office and work 9-5 in a job that didn’t seem to fit who I was.
I managed to admit to myself and to my closest family and friends that I wanted to be an artist. It sounded so ridiculous! But I knew it was important to me and that denying that part of myself was no good for my soul.
I applied for jobs with arts organisations to try and help change my direction. One of the companies was full of wonderful people, who although I didn’t get the job, the directors felt that we meant to work together somehow.
Some months later Read the rest of this entry »
Recent Comments