I’ve had to go through physical therapy a few times in my
life. If I did my exercises regularly and correctly, I was usually rewarded
with less pain and my PT telling me she was seeing improvements in my strength.
Although the exercises were always mind-numbingly boring, they worked. This lefty has been sketching every day with the right hand for two weeks now, and I’m pleased that I can already feel it getting a bit stronger. Unlike my drawing skills (which have always gone up and down, up and down, like a series of rolling hills instead of on an upwardly progressive line), the physical development of my right hand seems more consistent. Presumably, my right hand’s drawing skills are also improving, but it’s harder to see that progress. The development I feel is more in how easily I can move a pencil to make a curved mark in the right location and even how quickly I can move it. It’s satisfying to feel those changes.
Drawings of my hand, however, don’t seem to show improvements
in fine motor control as I thought they would. Here’s where that skill is much
more apparent: in writing. Just for fun, I thought I’d make a writing sample (bottom
of post) with my right hand. I won’t test it every day, but often enough to see
progress, if any. If my self-directed “physical therapy” is successful, I
should ultimately see improvement in my penmanship along with my drawing. We’ll
call this sample the baseline.
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| A redo of the pose from Day 140, which I wasn't happy with. I like this one better. |
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| 8/6/20 writing sample |
I am constantly amazed that you are able to sketch so well with your non-dominant hand. I've tried line drawings only and those aren't too great. When you think of all the years that you haven't been sketching with that hand it only makes it more impressive.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of surprised too, but I think the shaky, weird lines don't show up as much with subjects like hands. Straight lines are harder to make!
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