I want to give credit where credit is due. The handiwork in the photo is not my initial cut. It is what Dr. Bliss created in order to mend the damage of my accident. Looks to me like he cut up a little on the left and down further on the right of my injury. I assume he did this in order to get to those intricate and necessary parts of my finger, so I can move and feel it again.

I took the photo this morning after removing my protective, black shells in order to change the dressing. I’ve been instructed to do this every other day. This is the only time my hand is allowed free of it’s prescribed confinement, and it feels naked and vulnerable. As restrictive as it is, I was relieved to strap it back in, so I don’t have to worry about causing further damage just by reaching my fingers or bending my wrist the wrong way.

Artwork by Dr. Bliss

Custom-designed, thermoplastic brace

My puppet was unwound and cut away yesterday. Dried blood was cleaned from the new line of sutures - repair thanks to Dr. Bliss.

Jessica, O.T., tailored a black (my choice - it goes w/everything) sheet of Aquaplast thermoplastic into a protective shell over my wounded finger and then a larger one over my hand and wrist. I LOVE this stuff.*  These braces are created to keep my finger and hand in specifically bent positions and are strapped on snugly over a soft “sock”. I’m required to wear them at ALL times.

I am also required to do my “home exercise program for Flexor Tendon repairs” six times daily. I’m only allowed passive movement of my wrecked hand. I use my left to move and bend the fingers of my right. That’s it. If I try to voluntarily move my damaged finger at this point, I could mess up my recovery. Jessica didn’t want to scare me with details; she looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Just do what we tell you.”

* She gave me some scraps of thermoplastic to play with:  It comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses. You soak it in very hot water till pliable and mold into shape. It sets hard but can still be trimmed with scissors. Think of the possibilities!

Please excuse the shortcuts here. I’m limited to the use of my left hand (not my dominate but better than nothing). This update is copied from notes Bob took in his post-surgery mtg w/Dr. Bliss:

Cut deeply to the bone.  Severed tendon & below tendon to hinge of the knuckle.  Severed nerves on both sides of finger.  Severed blood vessels. Surgery took a long time but…fresh, new cut & clean cut (scalpel) - should heal fine.  In splint - 2 finger.  Vicodin…then to Tylenol.  Tues: new splint & start re-hab exercises.

Just home from surgery - on ice

Awake & doing better...

Won’t make this mistake EVER again & hope to get back to painting soon…

It is difficult to type w/o my right index finger. I post this as a reminder to myself & others. I used a scalpel to scrape some dried acrylic from a painting today. I wasn’t paying close attention when sliding the blade back into it’s protective shield and sliced through my finger. My good neighbor drove me into town for help - 7 stitches to close the gap & stop the bleeding. But tomorrow I have an appointment with a hand specialist to see if I cut a tendon - I’m unable to bend one of my joints. He may have to open it back up and work a miracle. I am angry at myself…trying to forgive my carelessness.

7 stitches

scalpel, drops of blood on my way to sink

The Peoria Art Guild wants to cordially invite each and every one of our 1,000+ FaceBook friends to Barbara Grant’s Reception this Friday (July 9) from 5:30-7:30 at the Peoria Art Guild. Barbara’s series “Quiet Interference” is on display. You must visit this exhibit and see Barbara’s work. The story behind the series is personal and touching!..

Barbara Grant, "Quiet Interference #3" oil on canvas 30"x 40"

Quiet Interference #3.  To view all nine images:  Grantview Studio

Main Street

"Turtle Box"

“Turtle Box” is up on the lamppost on Main Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Cubes of Whitewater “Thinking Outside the Box!” …for the Whitewater Arts Alliance.

The 6th annual public art project sponsored by the  Whitewater Arts Alliance is Thinking Outside the Box.

Each of the last five years a theme has been selected, and local artists and enthusiasts have created lively interpretations on the basic forms.  The creations will be perched on the light poles in downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin throughout the summer.  On Saturday, September 25, the boxes will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at the Cultural Arts Center ’s annual fundraiser.  Previous forms were bicycles (2009), butterflies (2008), birdhouses (2007), chairs (2006) and fish (2005).

This year’s box form created the biggest challenge for me. The first thing I did was remove two sides of the cube, because it just seemed too claustrophobic. Then I cut out two holes for ‘handles’, because it was too difficult to pick up without them. Once I opened it up, I didn’t want to close it in again - I decided to cut two sides from plexiglass to use instead. I wanted to use my Straddle the Turtle theme, and the labyrinth design fit nicely on the square panels. While measuring a grid to center these, I decided I liked the checker-board look.

It turned out to be a nice little game table!

almost finished...

plexiglass panels

in progress...

checkerboard side

turtle in labyrinth

labyrinth turtle

labyrinth & grid

plexiglass side

labyrinth design

removed sides

plain cube

I toned down the turtle shell with a thin, blue glaze and highlighted other areas by scumbling over ridges of dried paint with an opaque light yellow. Feels like it’s finished, but I could come back tomorrow and disagree with myself.

This series of seven “Stormy Weather”oil paintings (all 30 x 40″on stretched canvas) are my visual exploration of how depression can feel, and this one (#7) is the first to include a person. I will be delivering it to Studio 84 in Whitewater, Wisconsin for their “Quiet Desperation” exhibit.

“Stormy Weather 1-6″ are presently on display at The Bradley Gallery in Stoughton, WI.

Stormy Weather #7

Now more rosey than orange...hmmm...

This is the thing about posting the progress of a painting for all to see - my mistakes are so public.  Augh!!!

Nothing that can’t be fixed, though.

Back to the studio…