The healing journey from the surgery on my right wrist has been an interesting process. With less physical freedom than before, it left me with no option but to adapt and redistribute more leading control to my left hand. As part of this, I chose to take up the challenge of training my left hand how to draw. This was just to be a fun challenge with no expectations. I chose to also get my fans and some coffee shop strangers involved as part of it.
At first, trying to get your hand what you want it to is a very awkward and frustrating struggle but I was determined to figure it out. Sketch after sketch I was slowly managing to transfer the techniques learnt on my right side and have them one by one start to register on the left.
The first sketch felt all kinds of weird to me, but the results were not important. I just needed to become familiar with the feeling. With the 4th, I noticed more control being developed, however I also noticed there were more shorter strokes involved which are easier in comparison to longer strokes. 7 sketches in and my left hand was still rigid and awkward but the progression was definitely coming through strongly now. On the 8th sketch (which I spent a lot more careful time on) I finally noticed my wrist loosening up and on the 9th my fingers were starting to add movement too. The 9th for me was definitely the best example of the most balanced and consistent technique coming through, were I felt the 8th was slightly over-worked.
Even though the results of my left hand were starting to resemble more of my capabilities with my right hand, movement still felt very awkward and was not doing everything I wanted it to. It also took longer and needed a lot more intensive focus and problem solving than than I’ve been used to for a very long time. In the end, I’m very pleased with how everything played out and I’m glad to say that my wrist afterwards went on to make a full recovery.
I soon after learnt that training your less dominant hand is actually beneficial for brain health - stimulating the brains cognitive and creative functions in forming new neural pathways and forming stronger connections between both hemispheres of the brain.
This was a very new practice for me. It was very much outside of my comfort zone and exactly what I needed at that time. The saying, “The magic happens outside your comfort zone” couldn’t be more true.
One thing I have noticed throughout my life is that when I take up a challenging new practice where I have to learn to grow, the growth goes further than expected and in more ways. Part of this also involves another challenge which is overcoming the fear of approaching strangers in public to be drawn. This is a whole thing to get into in itself and one I will share in a separate blog post.
When fully committing to ones passion, mission in life or simply wanting to become the best version of yourself, it really is about the art of turning limitation into freedom. This is a practice I highly recommended all artists to try out!
