Rest.
Time off.
Even though all she wanted to do was go back to painting.
But her body demanded healing.
So she had to listen. There was no other option.
After several months off, Solly returned to sketching for short sessions.
Just 20 minutes at a time, with long rest breaks.
Even though she couldn't paint the way she wanted to, she looked for creative ways to keep making art.
She taught herself to draw and paint left-handed.
She played with making monoprints.
And she returned very gently to painting, starting with abstracts instead of her usual photorealistic style.
A year after her diagnosis, Solly completed a new work -- based on the MRI scans of her wrist.
The toll of her injury hit in invisible ways as well. Who was she if she couldn't create the work she wanted to?
Making art from the experience helped her to process emotionally.
And in September 2018, Solly returned to the painting that led to her original injury.
She wore a brace to support her wrist.
Her brush handles had foam wraps so she could hold them with less effort.
It was a bit like learning to paint while wearing heavy winter gloves.
But she did it -- and another year later, she completed the painting.
Solly has a message for visual artists everywhere:
"Working those extra few hours is really not worth it if it takes you out of action for months, or even yearsâ¦. This isn't an injury that I have recovered from. It's one I live with every day.
"I would implore fellow artists to look after themselves and take regular breaks when working. My injury was totally preventable, and this type of injury can happen to anyone."
Your body is one of the most important assets in your art business.
What if you started treating it with the same care you'd give to your most expensive art tool?
Sometimes it is the negative space that makes a painting work.
And sometimes as an artist, it becomes essential to do nothing at all.
As I mentioned last week, there is no "balance" -- only the creative act of "balancing".
So, it's important to spend time making art...
...but not so much that your health suffers.
It's important to spend time building your business...
...without sacrificing your most creative hours of the day.
And, it's important to make time for yourself and your familyâ¦
...without feeling guilty about not doing more for your art or your business.
So if you find yourself caught up in the December holiday rush, or just feeling especially anxious --
take a minute to pause, breathe deeply, and focus on the moment.
I'll be taking a break beginning this week as well, returning on January 7. (Our coaching team will still be online in my absence -- so feel free to reach out anytime.)
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season,
- Miguel
