Doctors, Dentists and PAIN

Something a bit different today, this is NOT a self pity post - it is written in the hope it might help someone else out there.

Not many of you out there know, in fact I doubt any of you do.. but in April this year I gave up smoking after 30 years. What they dont tell you is not only how hard this can be, but also of the very many side effects that can manifest after the dreaded tobacco and other poisons leave your body.

So.. having suffered acute insomnia I started with a visit to the GP, who had no interest in the insomnia that I felt back in May was destroying me, I was so tired and could not function at all - he had no interest. In June I went to the dentist as I had bleeding gums, (at this point I must mention I had perfect health up to April this year)I was diagnosed with gum disease which left me totally horrified, I had looked after my teeth since I got them, some might say obsessively so. I was told by the dentist this was my own fault, firstly for smoking and secondly for not flossing every day?
After a course of antiboitics and a thorough clean from the hygienist all should have been well... but it wasnt, I started to suffer the most incredible pain in my gums.

Back to the dentist I went, they found nothing - told me all was now well.
Back to the GP I went, who informed me she was not a dentist and could not help me.

This went on.. and on..... Until this week I was forced to visit the dentist again after a couple of pretty severe days of pain, I saw a different dentist and she gave me a very thorough examination and a full x-ray. Again.. nothing wrong. Luckily for me this dentist knew her onions, she has given me a referral to the dental hosptial, but also sent me back to the GP with a note... she suspects I have NEURALGIA, the dental form of this is Odontalgia, anyone interested in knowing more about this there is plenty of information here Odontalgia
Basically, it is a condition of the nerves causing the pain I described, at last!! someone has listened and soon I can get some help. I havent actually found anyone else who suffers from this yet, but there is information out in cyberland. The most frightening thing about this condition, is most people are not diagnosed until after they have had an awful lot of unneccessary dental treatment - how scary is that? Some can also wait years for a diagnosis.


Thats enough on that one then. Meanwhile I did of course have to 'art it out' and before my last visit to the dentist I painted this, its called "PAIN" as it was how I felt at the time of painting, I was sinking into a huge pit of despair.






I will be linking this post to Effy's Swoon Sunday were many of us from the Book of Days group, choose a blog post and picture (mine is of the above painting) to enter into our Swoon day.

I also did a quick sketch of Effy this week from her picture on the website, wonder what she will make of this then? certainly should raise a smile at least - might not be fabulous, but in October last year I could only manage a stick person.




If anyone does wish to discuss Neuralgia or Odontalgia any further there are contact details for me on my website.

I hope this wasnt too miserable a blog post, that was not the intention - I am fine now, or at least I will be soon once I start the treatment, but there are many out there who are not and still waiting for the help they need.

Visit to Exhibition

Yesterday I took Mum to visit our local artist's exhibition. The exhibition was held by The Southport Palette Club, it was their 87th Annual Art Exhibition, how cool is that? the group was formed in 1921 to further the interest of Southport Artists, both professional and amateur, by holding an annual exhibition of their works.

I wondered were all these wonderful local artists were hiding, and was lucky enough to meet Caroline Kaye who as it turned out was the artist I had enjoyed the most, and had even read about her before I arrived at the exhibition. Her art was even better than what I had already seen on line, and she was also a fabuous lady to talk to, a true inspiration to me, and a great help. If you click on her name you can go take a look at her website and follow links to her art works - Caroline Kaye. I have now found there are actually local art groups I may be able to join in for some help and guidence, and to share my interest with like minded people instead of boring everyone else to bits.

The first picture above is of my new little sketchbook Mum bought me, to encourage some spontaneous sketches.

Below is some of the sketches and doodles I have been doing, I have also done a lot of painting - all abstract works.









No painting today, its now too hot in the house to do much so may well be a few days off till it cools off, which I am hoping will be soon.

New Painting Style

Whoops, I see its been some time since my last blog. Time goes so fast these days. Just for a change I have been busy painting, (and sketching too, but not shown those) seen here is a very large canvas, with inks on. Now it has more colour, paint and black sides... the idea is to actually then put a painting on it.. but its very nerve wracking. I do have a place to exhibit in town now, just a matter of getting brave enough and I am hoping to start with this canvas.

Anyway, the new painting style is abstract, I love it. I love looking at brightness and fun pictures, and I love doing them... amazingly with all this expressionism my sketching of realism is improving, not sure how that works? Here is an A3 painting of a sketch I did in my book, its the first time I have actually managed a copy, aside from the dog who does look more like a gargoyle in this painting and is actually a greyhound in my sketchbook, not sure what happened there?



The next was part of my being brave and painting on a new canvas, its only A3 sized but was still an achievement for me to actually paint on it, the funiest thing about this painting is its marmite effect - everyone who has seen it either loves it or hates it.. I'm not really sure about it, but never mind its bright and cheery thats for sure.



This one was my first 'Love Heart Girl' it is my aim to do a collection of these once I am happy with one, the last one was so hideous I didnt even photograph her, so they do still need some improvements. But Mum was fond of this one as she likes the colours.




So there you have it, my new style (for now) love it or hate it - I enjoy it. Some of you may notice I am influenced by some of the abstract painters, one of my all time favourites on line, he can be found on Youtube and his paintings are on sale on ebay is "RaeArt" he is worth looking up, his works are great and he teaches on youtube and entertains too.

I'm off to take another look at this large canvas............

Still Happy Sketching

Still happy sketching in the evenings and exploring other mediums, this one is ink pens and watercolour. The sketch was inspired by one I saw by Tamara LaPorte from Willowing on her blog.

My next one was fancing a spot of doodling, there are a lot of my arty contacts doing this at the moment its very relaxing. This one is watercolour and ink pen in my A5 sketchbook.



Here is yet another of my faces practice (I do a lot of this) used my new coloured ballpoints and some watercolour, yes I would like hair like that - would certainly be differerent LOL.



Lastly I had on the go a 20" x 16" canvas, takes sometime to do all the colours and then a different tone glaze a day to finish off. Had fun with it, but its my third one in that style now, so time for something new. I have the same size canvas board on my easil primed ready to start, be another week no doubt but hope to start tomorrow, on a new style.



Lastly I must thank Tanya from http://cardswithadifference.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/award.html for awarding me the versatile blogger award. I have actually been awarded this three times (I think) sadly I am not smart enough to carry out all the instructions, I cant even manage to put the picture on display - so please do not think I am not grateful for these awards I am, but just all too technical for me.. some might just be relieved this means I now dont have to bore them to bits with 7 facts about me?? if I could manage to think of any, dont think 7 lots of I like Art and Dogs would do it.....

New Painting

Not sure if I mentioned it, but I purchased an A3 watercolour pad the other week, as I do prefer larger things to paint on now. The intention was to attempt an Abstract Face, not quite sure what happened there, she is not really abstract but obviously not realism either... Anyway, I quite like her so then decided to have a go at glazing, she has about 10 coats of different colour glaze so will take some drying but the colours are amazing, sadly not quite shown off on my photography there.

I currently have another abstract canvas on the go, not too large and its giving me some grief, not being very friendly toward my tape, so that too will be taking a different direction soon.

I have joined a sketchbook group on Flickr, so enjoying some ink, pen and pencil sketching in the evenings now - all good practice so I am told. I do so enjoy looking at other peoples works, I dont feel quite as 'odd' that its all I am interested in these days, there really are others like me out there.. Funny someone was telling me about a lady they knew who's only interest was her dogs and working them, thats all she does! I didnt see a problem with this, to me if someone is lucky enough to find something they enjoy so much they are very lucky, and usually a happy person too.

Righto, back to that painting lets see where it takes me.

Anyone for Abstract?

So, this is what I have been up to for most of the week. Its a bit on the large side at 30" x 30" and has no hanger on yet, so if I do decide (after varnish) I want to hang it somewhere I will need to speak to my joiner friend about adding a frame to the back.
Mostly Acrylic paint, with a bit of inks.

I have today scaled down to an A3 watercolour pad, and a couple of smaller works to practice on. Must say I could quite easily get used to working on a larger scale.. might need some more paint first though.

I have seen some great groups on Flickr so going to join a couple of groups on there, even found a couple of local artists which was interesting.

I am starting to think I was born to do this, just should have realised it a good few years ago, ok my paintings will not be to everyone's tastes but I can live with that, I just love to paint.. once I have walked the dogs, done the chores I cant wait to get out the brushes and thats me till teatime (and often beyond).

new easel fun

On Saturday I took delivery of a much needed new easel, my others were quite small and the week before I visited a car boot and purchase 4 very large canvas's to paint on, around 32" each, seemed like a good idea at the time till I realised I had no way to use them, plan for the future is clearing out a room to use the wall with a hook on. Anyway, my easel arrived wrapped in a huge piece of card, cut in half made it around 25" which fit nicely on said new easel. As it was a bit wonky I tried covering it in newsprint and pva to make a stronger surface to work on....

Turned out not to be one of my better ideas, but it did give me more confidence to work on my first larger surface before moving to either a board or a canvas. So, here is my first larger abstract, still a bit wonky due to the paper and card but gave me practice and the fun. I varnished it too just to see how that would look.



Still not overly confident I am priming a large piece of board which is about 36" to have another go on... think maybe I am spending too much time watching Rolf Harris, he was on the tv last night with the Jubilee Art, how fab was that? only wish I could have got to London to see the exhibition.

I am also having a go at a wooden box, that too is at priming stage at the moment, but I have plans to give it a new bright and lined look and pop it in the Etsy shop.

Hope everyone had a great Jubilee weekend, I did enjoy the coverage I saw and cant wait for the concert to be on CD.