Mibrofyalgia

I’ve been wondering for a long time why do I do art and what purpose does it serve?  I’m not sure, would be my first response, so I’ve been looking into it and came across an interesting point which I’d never really thought about.  Pictures cross the language barrier, this had never occurred to me!

I enjoy the process of seeing, observing and interpreting into a painting.  I also hope that people enjoy looking at what I do.  When it comes to art I don’t have a lot of words come to mind, I start to think in images so I find it hard to put into words my thoughts on art.

I’ve been drawing and painting since school, unfortunately due to various ailments I haven’t devoted as much time to it as I would have liked but I’ve enjoyed it none the less.  Here are some things I did at college before the Fibromyalgia seriously kicked in.

I thought it would be fun to move to a new site, so here it is!   I’ve decided to scan and photograph some of my older artwork (from 10 or so years ago) and post it on the site.  So here’s two to start with…

Today I’ve been having an art day.  I’ve done some watercolour, acrylic and am about to get stuck into some oil painting.  I’m enjoying it but have a few frustrations, mainly that I’m in pain and that is distracting me and means that I can’t do as much as I would like, also my brain keeps switching off and feels like it is filled with molasses.  Apart from that I’m having fun and feel like I’ve achieved something.  I’ll post some of my work sometime soon…..

I only really started landscape painting 3 years ago.  I decided to paint from “life” or “en plein air”.  I was lucky with the weather which was sunny and warm.  I was not prepared for the clouds to change quite so quickly.

My first attempt at outdoor landscape painting

I finished this one off at home because I was getting cold and it had got dark.

My 2nd attempt, a bit less finished but a better sky

This one was done completely on location, hence it is a bit messier.

I enjoyed the experience very much but have struggled to get very many pictures completed since-due to various health problems-so have a large amount of half finished canvases and paintings lying about the flat.

I’m planning to make my own Christmas cards this year (hopefully).  I managed to make some last year-a stencilled dove on indian hand made paper.  I drew the dove, then carefully cut it out of card to make a stencil then used white acrylic paint and a stubby brush and dabbed through the stencil on to squares of blue and gold indian hand made paper.  I then stuck the squares with the dove on it onto pre-made blank cream cards.

This year I’m going to attempt a nativity scene.  I’m nervous about this because I usually draw and paint animals and landscapes rather than people due to a lack of confidence with figures.  Anyway the plan is to do the nativity scene in oil paint on canvas then try and take a decent photo, download it onto the computer and then print it out however many times onto card.  That’s the theory anyway.  The reason I’m going to try oil on canvas is partly because that’s my favourite medium and partly because I find it to be much more forgiving than acrylic or watercolour but everyone’s different.  If I don’t manage it for this year (i.e I’m too slow) I’ll try to get it done for next year and go to plan B for this year.  Now I just need to think of a plan B….

I thought I would share some of my recent art work, things I have been messing about with of late.

acrylic and oil on canvas

pencil on sugar paper

not yet finished, please excuse terrible photo

I am a 28 year old woman with Fibromyalgia syndrome and schizoaffective disorder (bipolar type).  These two illnesses have made life quite interesting (and sometimes hard).  Some people have not heard of either so I will try and explain a little bit about each one.  I am not a doctor though so this is only from my experience.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic but not life threatening illness which is characterized by widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, fatigue, cognitive disfunction (memory problems, concentration problems and mixing up words etc) and a plethora of other symptoms.

Schizoaffective disorder is a mixture of Bipolar disorder (manic depression) and schizophrenic symptoms.  So mood swings from very depressed to euphoric and psychotic symptoms like delusions to hearing and seeing things that are not real.  I take medication for this and am relatively stable at the moment.  I see a psychiatrist every few months and a nurse every few weeks to make sure I’m keeping well.

Before I became unwell with Fibromyalgia 9 years ago I was training to become an illustrator.  I have continued to draw, paint and take photographs since that time and find it very cathartic (although it can sometimes be frustrating!).

I have been a christian since I was young and have found it to be of great comfort and hope.

This blog will include my musings on art, mental health and fibromyalgia.