Evolution of Creativity :: by Jean Green

55
Until I was injured in a car accident when I was 55 I would have told anyone that I couldn't draw. Following the accident a period of reduced mobility left me feeling very depressed and I was forced to give up my job which I loved. I sought help from my doctor with my various aches and pains and was diagnosed with multiple joint osteo and rhumatoid arthritis and then during x rays they discovered I had severe osteoporosis in my spine too. (I'm one of the lucky ones as an early diagnosis meant I could slowdown the total degeneration of my spine.)

Evolution of Creativity
My mom encouraged me to take a pencil and paper away with me to Spain for my holiday. If you cant explore every corner on foot you can sit and draw what you see, she said. By the time I came home I was hooked. I took up painting in watercolour and loved it. My aches and pains would melt into the background for a while and I felt useful again when I started making cards from my art work and selling them for charity. Then in 2004 my spine started to break down and sitting painting was too painful. I started collage with paper instead and then discovered scrapbooking and journalling. I have taught my skills to others at a small community center and now I've moved to a new life, on my own. My art is my salvation, I journal about the many bad times I've had lately and I scrap my lovely grandchildrens' progress through their lives too.

Jean welcomes emails at jeangreen07@talktalk.net. Visit http://apaintaholicsprogress.blogspot.co.uk/