Painting With My LEFT Hand

Three weeks ago I had surgery on my right elbow to repair the tip of my radius which was broken off.  On April 13,  I was exhibiting my beautiful Sally and tripped in the ring causing my elbow to dislocate.  After a trip to the emergency by ambulance, they were able to repair the dislocation but not the radius.   After spending almost 2 weeks of going to surgeons and my primary care physician, it was decided to go in and repair the break.  The surgery was somewhat successful but only time will tell what my full recovery will be.  Sitting around the past couple of weeks, I decided I need a back up plan and have decided to try left hand painting.  The photos are the different stages, you be the judge! 

   This was my first painting, starting with a drawing.  This was from a photograph taken of Sally my afghan hound when she was around one year old.  I had drawn this out on a large canvas and started to paint it, but other work got in the way.  This drawing with my left hand is on an 8 x 10 inch canvas.

 

 

After the drawing I started out with a light wash of color. 

 

Then I went back in with more darks, after this is where I think I got into trouble.  Thus, too much paint and not being able to control with my left hand.

 

Here is the finished piece.  I know you are thinking, well what is wrong with this.  As an artist I have a vision of  the outcome of a painting.   This was not it.  Amazingly though, this painting resembles Sally's sister Olive, so all is not lost.

 

 

After a few days of figuring out where I went wrong, I decided to give it another try.

 

 

HOORAY, this is exactly what I wanted and amazingly, with my left hand.

 

So feeling pretty pleased with myself I decided to try a couple plein air paintings of my beautiful rose bushes. 

 

"Red Roses" 6 x 8 oil on canvas. 

 

"White Roses", 6 x 8 oil on canvas.

 

Good thing I painted them when I did because the gardener, cut them back the following Sat.

 

So what should I paint next.  I will be doing the Newport Backbay Show in July.  This year for the sale ,  you can have studio paintings.  Since I am no sure when I will be going to the beach to paint I decided to paint a larger piece from a previous plein air painting.

 

 

What I am learning through this process of painting with my left hand is that my creativity comes from my brain.   I am hoping for a full recovery, but if I have some limitations, I am confident that I will be able to overcome them.

 

All of my new paintings, painted with my left hand are available, the originals, prints and greeting cards through Fine Art America.  Any Questions let me know.

 

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/terry-chacon.html

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME, please enjoy the art.   Terry d. Chacon

 

 

 

BACK TO NATURE

This exhibit (flyer above) was planned as part of my plein air workshop which was to be held April 27 & 28.  The workshop was postponed due to my injury (I broke my right arm showing my dog Sally on April 13) but, the Dorothy Ramon Center  still wanted to display the paintings I did in preparation of the workshop.  I had invited Plein Air Artist Patricia Rose Ford and Nita Harper to come paint the canyon with me on a couple occasions.  Their paintings are also on display.

  

Our plan is to have 4 Plein air workshops a year in the canyon followed by 4 Exhibits at the Center.   A portion of the sales from the exhibit  and the workshops will be donated to the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.        www.dorothyramonlearningcenter.org

I am excited to collaborate with the center in bringing Native American culture and Plein Air art together.   Artist will not only experience painting on location on private land, but will learn about the native plants with archaeologist Daniel McCarthy.

Once I am able to paint again we will reschedule the 1st workshop.  Those who already signed up will have the first opportunity to enroll.

Meanwhile, I hope you will stop by the gallery to see the paintings on display.  They are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will go to the center.

On another note the fabulous exhibit of plein air works are on display at the Randy Higbee Gallery in Costa  Mesa.   You can view the show online at:  LPAPA.DailyBrushwork.com, I have 2 paintings in the exhibit.  The one you see here on the postcard and Sunset at Crystal Cove.

UNTIL NEXT TIME PLEASE ENJOY THE ART!  Terry d. Chacon

If you are interested in purchasing paintings, prints and greeting cards of my work, please go to:

  http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/terry-chacon.html

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