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Just a short post this time to wish you all Happy New Year. I’m certain that most people are relieved to say goodbye to 2020 and hope that 2021 will be better – at least by degrees. Again, my sketches are digital works that I hope to paint sooner or later. . .
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© HMH, 2021
It is hard to believe that this is the third and last time that I can welcome Anna. Maybe we will meet again. It has been fun and remarkably interesting to hear about her journey through a difficult period of her life. At the same time, it is remarkable how positive Anna has been throughout this, for her so difficult time. I admire your strength and resilience, Anna. With that it’s my pleasure to give Anna the last word.
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As my left arm became stronger, I took greater chances with my art forms. I decided, while I knew painting beautiful faces-Cassatt, Renault, Tutty, or even Klimt, my form would be more impressionistic bordering on abstract. So my occupational therapy was taking hold and while, at times, it became tortured to wield and allow my magical brush to find its way to where I’d wish it would go, quite the contrary (I equate this to the characters in my books that take over and create a new direction for the tale). In any case, art it would be. Moreover, it was progress. This time, I included the use of my right hand, the one unaffected by the stroke. (Just as an aside, while I am ambidextrous, I do prefer to use my left for certain tasks-cutting, painting, brushing my hair/teeth-those sort of things. This I called, ‘Flutterings.’ (Much like those first sensations in my, otherwise, cadaver hand).
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Here’s a reminder of Anna’s links:
https://www.annacasamentoarrigo.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Casamento-Arrigo/e/B00G2UY84G%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
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© HMH, 2020
It is a great pleasure to present Anna’s second instalment in this mini-series, concentrating on her – other – talent. Anna is an accomplished poet and author, who has great success with her writing. Here we focus on her paintings, which are beautiful as well as unique.
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Slowly, ever so slowly, as fluttering began in my paralyzed left hand, I began pushing its use so that I could attempt new and paintings that had had greater detail and depth. It wasn’t always easily accomplished and, admittedly, quite a few attempts ended upon the trash. Nevertheless, since this new discovery and cathartic, and satisfying release encouraged my need to bring about and, yes, even awakening of all I, just months earlier, thought all, I, was lost. My occupational therapy continued both at Kessler and, more so, at home! My second painting, using the drop method once again, I called ‘A Congregation of Swans.’
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Here’s a reminder of Anna’s links:
https://www.annacasamentoarrigo.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Casamento-Arrigo/e/B00G2UY84G%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
© HMH, 2020
It is striking that accomplished authors often have hidden talents. It can be painting or musical talent, it could be anything to do with artistic endeavour. Some authors produce book covers professionally, and some authors knit or embroider. For my post this week, I’d love to introduce the author Anna Casamento Arrigo, who is a poet and a visual artist. I intend to feature her work in a miniseries, that will be the topic for this and the next two painting posts. Without further ado, I’ll leave her to tell about her art.
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Thank you, Hanne for this opportunity!
On July 20th, 2011, I suffered a frontal-parietal stroke. Prior to that, I had taught eighth grade Language Arts to AP classes in an inner-city school. Now, the last side of my body paralyzed and my vestibular system and speech affecting each aspect of my being, I felt lost. Three months after this life-altering event, and recuperating at the Kessler Institute for brain injuries, occupational thereby became part of my recuperative process. This included art. And my new path began. Ever so slowly, I forced my left cadaver hand to action. Additionally, painting became my go-to when my thoughts led me to bouts of rumination. I took the strategies I had learned from my occupational art sessions, invested in a multitude of art media, and set about the, often frustrating task of capturing my feelings, frustrations, and, most specifically, my road to refining myself. My first feeble attempts were just that-feeble but, albeit therapeutic. I found the drop method of painting the easiest for me to manage. I had rediscovered a new sense of self. This is one of the very first works, which I called, ‘Saturn’s Sunrise.’ (It, in an aberrant, and perhaps, way captured a journey of that place lying in full view but also, somehow, untrainable). #strokesurvivor
Regards! Anna
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Here is Anna’s painting Saturn’s Sunrise
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Here are Anna’s links:
https://www.annacasamentoarrigo.com/
https://amazon.com/author/annaarrigo
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© HMH, 2020
At present, I’m figuring out what to paint next. These are my options.
The moon always fascinated me, especially the full moon. I’ve numerous sketches and photos — more or less successful — but this isn’t all bad.
You could say that this is a tropical fantasy, I’ve no idea where it came from. Maybe it was a dream. If so, it must’ve been glorious. What I like about it are the colours.
This last one, I fancy is an autumn scene. Pine tree on a beach. Again, I’ve no idea of the origin. Anyway, I believe it too could work.
© HMH, 2020
It took a long time and one fiasco to finish this mask project.
My first attempt at the sun didn’t work at all. I hated it but put it in my bookcase facing my desk so that it would confront me every time I sat down to work. For a long time, it just sat there staring at me. One day, its glowering made me so miserable that I painted the miserable attempt over and primed it again.
A few weeks ago, I suddenly knew what to do. Here are the results. The stick and heavy base went out of the window when I found the Chinese plate holder, which seems to be in harmony with my object.
© HMH, 2020
© HMH, 2020
It’s been a while since I last could find time for painting. That made it all the more enjoyable to muck about with colours and brushes. This painting is so new that I haven’t thought of a title — but it’ll come to me.
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© HMH, 2020
My last piece in this miniseries of Steen Espersen’s art is a nude, seen from the back. I selected it because of its tender rendition of the female form. The ink lines and the light brown colour wash creates a feeling that the woman in the picture is alive.
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© HMH, 2020
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The third instalment in my Espersen miniseries is a landscape. Steen was of an old Bornholm family and found a large part of his inspiration in the rocky landscapes. All thing nautical spoke to him and he spent a long time on the easternmost island group in Denmark, painting. Unfortunately, none of his oil paintings are available – not as far as I know – but I’m including a Sketch from Cristiansø.
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© HMH, 2020