Art IS Therapy!

I am really enjoying my art class. While I am there, I am totally engrossed in my work and not feeling my pain ... at all.  It is fantastic.  (Of course, this isn't always true, especially when I have not had a good sleep the night before...)

My counsellor wants me to spend more time thinking about when I have moments during the day when I am less aware of my pain, or when it is less intense.  And I'm realizing that even if I think my pain is at a 7 all day, in fact it's not all day, there was that first 5 minutes right after I woke when it was more like a 5, or even a 4.

So here's this week's attempt at being an artist.  The whole point was to develop the drawing in 3 steps - blocking shapes, then dark shadows and light spots, and then drawing lines.  I am used to drawing lines & outlining everything as step #1 so this was quite a challenge.  Blocking shapes, I learned, is not the same as outlining.

Who would have known?