Unboxed Apple Pencil 2nd Gen: First Impressions. Life Changes Everything, Digital Artventure Begins

If you are new to HeArtfully Creating let me introduce myself. My name is Anita Berglund and I live in Canada. Ever since I can remember, I only ever wanted to be an artist.

Thanks to technology, I get to share various aspects of my life, our life (I have a wonderful husband of 20 years, named Craig) with whoever wants to listen. Since I was born with a neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 3, my muscles don't receive the messages to move like healthy muscles do. The motor neurone slowly deteriorate bit by bit. That means I once walked with a wobble and had full use of my upper body. At fourteen/fifteen, I started using a wheelchair, full time. Then as my muscles

Resin - Alcohol ink  -Petri dish technique

have continued their decline, I have been able to adapt all aspects of my life quite easily. Easily because I still had use of my hands. Even as my arms were no longer able to be raised or lifted (no more hugging), I could still figure out how to create. Even in University (as a mature Art student), I had

pomegranate - Acrylic on canvas

switched to using Prismacolor Pencils instead of Acrylic paint, assuming painting was no longer possible. I believe God gave me the idea to prop my right arm up on my desk and a paint canvas on a chair seat, leaning against the back. Voila, I would be able to do my best paintings ever. 

Wanting to teach and share everything creative, I started this blog. And of course hoping to find ways to earn money to help pay for my art supplies by blogging and YouTube.  It was to coincide with my YouTube channel abergiecreation. As you look back, you will see that I have branched out dabbling in a variety of new media, such as alcohol ink, resin, jewellery making, wire work, beading, needle

A polymer clay pendant

felting, digital art, print making, and my favourite, Polymer Clay. That was like painting in three dimensions. Loved the polymer clay community, so many wonderful artists and teachers! It's been as if the whole world was opened up thanks to the Internet, we are able to learn anything we want. Until then it was paper pencils and paint. That made art making very easy to focus on. I must confess, as awesome as it is to be able to find tutorials on any subject matter imaginable, I definitely have found it hard to focus and concentrate on one skill. Which means you end up doing a little bit of everything but not getting very good at one thing. Needless to say, the last 10 years I've been all over the place, in a good way and financially in a bad way. Art supplies aren't cheap.

Unfortunately, as time has passed, my hand strength continues to diminish. As much as I tried working with my dominant right hand, it has just been too difficult. Energy, like gasoline in a vehicle, is also some thing that is Sparse these days. Perhaps it's due to the other big life change, the one every middle-age woman looks forward to ha ha, menopause. Even though spinal muscular atrophy does cause fatigue, this life change compounds that fatigue exponentially at times. Bottom line is as of late,  I am unable to bring my two arms/hands together to work. You know how hands need to work together in order to get things done? 

That it's some thing I didn't ever anticipate. I I always consider myself blessed because I was able to prepare for the weakening of my muscles. Just never really thought about losing the use of two

Needle felted hearts that I made

cooperating hands. Which has therefore, caused me to lack severely in productivity. At the same time dealing with other health issues, including that middle-aged lady one, has meant a lot of resting and battling the temptation to sink into depression. Trusting God with my life, by His grace I remain joyful in spite of the many unanticipated life factors (see our life blog www.walkingwayoverrated.blogspot.com for more on that).

I did this figurine in polymer clay

I don't know about you, but if I don't have projects to work on, motivation is dangerously low. Then wanting to do certain projects and not being able to do them, compound that lack of motivation. Diagnosed with ADHD about fifteen years ago, I realized it makes sense why when I enjoy what I am working on, it is all I can focus on. (no need for medication to do so). I get that way when watching a tv series. ER was my last viewing obsession, all 15 seasons. No other show, just ER. It's most likely how I am wired that causes me to focus on just one thing until I am satisfied it's completed or I get bored with it. Getting bored or something is then when I see the effects of that diagnosis. Focus then becomes impossible, bouncing from one subject to another or in TV World one channel to another.  You could only imagine how hard it is to focus on YouTube, all those choices. 

Because I knew I would slowly lose muscle use, not walking was no big deal to me. But I always assumed my hands would be usable, able to create no matter what. Facing the past couple of years has been far more challenging than I ever imagined. Not really focusing on what I can do, I focused more on what I couldn't do. There are a lot of wonderful people living with limited mobility, who lead creative, productive lives. Using their brilliant minds, they have no limits. I think of heroes of mine like Joni Eareckson Tada and Nick Vujcic, and Shane Burcaw. So, I had no excuse to wallow in self pity and do

A Doodle I did  on wood with acrylic paint pens

nothing. It only takes my right hand to the this blog. It only takes that same hand to draw, to press buttons and with the arms and legs of others and assistive devices, I can get a hand to accomplish whatever I need to. Well obviously, I do approach things with reason and except that my dream of being a fire fighter or a brain surgeon just won't happen no matter who tries to help me out.  My voice is still there and the grey matter God blessed me with is as active as ever!

So I recently have started bit by bit, passing on my art supplies to those who I hope will make the most of them.  (I must say that is a big challenge because it's tempting to think, what if I can find a way to use them?) It's quite normal that artists can be addicted to collecting art supplies. That can mean having supplies you never even touch, but just enjoy looking at. Weird, I know, but it's true. It brings great joy,  encouraging children of all ages (and even adults) to create in whatever way shape, or form they can. 

Struggling more and more with feeling kind of like a lazy slug, unmotivated and not producing much of anything. The biggest decision so far in this life transition was finally made days ago. Thanks to the encouragement from my husband, that's what this video is about. About the first step in adapting and learning a new easier way to create art with one hand. So watch the video to see step One, step two is supposed to be delivered by 8 PM tonight. Apprehensive but also excited.

Watch Below- Apple Pencil Unboxed. Digital Artventure Begins

 

A Bite Out Of Life

Of course, when one has a physical disability, it's pretty common to adapt by doing things in whatever way you can. Our mouth is extremely helpful to many of us, to carry out a wide variety of tasks. Everything from opening pens to carrying keys,  clothing, blankets and towels, basically whatever our mouth can hold. My husband carries recycle bags to the door between his teeth on garbage night!! 

One of my Digital Paintings with a small Wacomb drawing tablet

 If I remember correctly, one of my heroes, Nick born without arms or legs mentioned earlier, proposed to his now wife, by placing the engagement ring in his mouth and slipping it onto her finger. Genius!

My acrylic paint pens

This is not as romantic as that but, and never will be, but even though I can draw with one hand, when using 
drawing implements with lids it requires a second hand to pull those off. Pretty much my entire life, even when my hands were stronger, it just was always easier to use my teeth. There's no avoiding cold hard reality, especially after you hear a loud crack in your left molar while trying to yank off a large Sharpie lid. Thankfully it doesn't hurt. 

Thought investing in paint pens  would be a good way to adapt, to be able to paint and draw since working with paint supplies, has become too challenging to even think about. I didn't consider the damage happening to my teeth by removing all those lids.  As well, it turns out paint pens can be very frustrating when it seems like one out of ever four or five doesn't work. 

Which leads to my new Adventure in art making digitally.

Before the pens, Years ago I did  try digital drawing on a Wacomb tablet. It was remarkable how you can create art using tools that simulate real media like pastels, paint and pencils. Even making it look like you are drawing on textured art paper. However, it didn't go very far because of the quality of the lower end device. I had little control with the stylus. It felt like kindergarten all over again. So I didn't bother learning or investing in anything of a higher quality. 

Until now...Excited to use this new device that actually works!

More Digital Adaptions

For a few years now, I also have no longer been able to use real books due to their weight (like my newest 2 pound beautiful Bible created for decorative journalling) and as much as I like an actual book, I have been transitioning to  audio books like Audible and digital books like Kindle. As well our Amazon Echo devices will even read our Kindle book texts.

Alcohol Ink - abstract by me

Ready, Set, Go!

So this is it. Even though I have spent a lifetime enjoying the handling of art supplies, all senses aware of creating. The sounds, scissors clacking, tearing of the paper, the crinkling of cellophane, the soft scratching of chalk pastels on a textured surface, the squishy, gloppy sound of mixing paints. The feel of using my finger tips to smudge graphite, spread pigments, squeeze clay, or remove pigment. How about the scents of art making? Remember Crayola crayons? Take a whiff and you will be reminded of your childhood. 

All of that to say this, I have accepted that I can still make art and create😁. It's not time to give up completely. What have I decided to do instead of all the ways I created before? (Wow, that's about 50 years, I am 55). It involves Amazon and Apple and the first part of my order arrived yesterday, hence the video. Watch the video to see more. And now, been waiting all of today for the main part of the order. Unfortunately, it's almost 8pm and still no deliveries except one. Our hearts raced as we saw the courier truck pull up and as fast as our heart rates increased, they sank just as quick, as we saw a yellow bubble envelope. A screen protector! That's another clue. Too bad. Yet nervous to stop vigilantly watching out the window worrying about "Porch Pirates." Oh well, Craig and I have to close the curtains sooner or later. Amazon's order status says it's being delivered today. Not!

The anticipation increases.

While we wait, just watch the video and you will learn how I can keep on creating with one hand and  without endangering my teeth anymore or using all my energy. It's all brand new to me, but not to most modern artists.

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