Clayton41

Obviously, I do not write many entries in here..and lately, well..for about four months I haven't posted anything..and you deserve to know why.

I have some health issues..as do most people. Specifically, due to years of running jackhammers and hammer chisels doing construction work, I have nerve damage in my hands and arms. That by itself is not a really big issue. What adds a great deal to the buggery is I also have three compressed disks in my neck that are pinching the nerves, and one ruptured in my back. The ones in my neck are causing some serious buggery to my arms and basically exasperating the nerve damage to where it is impossible to draw for more than ten minutes at a time on a GOOD day.

Last month I went for a nerve burning procedure (audio ablation or whatever it's called) on the left side of my neck that was supposed to give me relief in my hands and neck two or three days after the procedure. Unfortunately, three weeks later I was still spending most of every day laying on the floor with a pillow under my chin and neck because of painful swelling and severe pain where the procedure was done. A week after that the swelling was still there, and the pain doctor refused to do the other side of my neck because of the severe reaction to the procedure, as well as questioning if they should do the same for my back. I can not take cortisone due to sever reactions as well, so as of now it appears I'm sort of up the creek without a paddle.

A few months ago, I started a Gofundme to buy a new tablet, one where I could draw directly onto the screen so that I could move it and myself around when one drawing position caused me pain and my hand to go numb. I was hoping this procedure would eliminate the absolute need for the new tablet..but apparently that hope is out the window. So I'm gong to post the link to the Gofund me here.

If you can toss a few dollars toward it, I would be grateful beyond words...though I will give you words of thanks for certain.

www.gofundme.com/a-more-arthri…

However long it takes, I will post a new page and some new drawings and stuff..that I promise. I won't let this stop me from doing art stuff...I could just use a little help along the way.

Thanks everyone.

Ok, after a few people asked I decided to put something new in here...especially since I started the II comic. Soo....

Well. her goes with another entry!

Life seems to be getting a bit better. Mostly settled into my new place and may be able to get more drawing done. I did get Claytons reference sheet half finished between remodeling jobs at the house. Now its settled enough that I may be able to do some serious art!!

Hopefully you will be seeing more stuff soon! Thanks for all the comments too. Sorry that Clayton is a bit graphic, but hey..thats how he is. Sorta surprised me too!!

If you haven't already noticed, I've been hitting the tablet a lot lately. I'm trying to step outside my comfort zone of what I'm used to drawing...well my comfort zone for digital is rather small since I'm really new to the whole medium...and do more elaborate things. Clayton in the chair and at the tomb are the firstest attempts at more 'elaborate' drawings with more dynamic poses while trying to put more emotion into my work. If not, I would just sort of freeze into the blank looking character straight on poses and that is not what I want.

Also, and on a more serious note, it is therapy for me. Not to bring in drama, but I'm going through a lot of emotional stress at the moment, with loosing my business, my house, bankruptcy and a divorce within a six month period. After realizing that I was crawling into a tiny 'safe spot' where I did relatively nothing but sit on the computer all day (and when there ending up doing nothing but staring at the black screen once it went into screen saver), I decided to get some counseling. To cut the story short, I was supposed to force myself to do the things that I liked to do before, drawing being one of them. Getting the inspiration of what to draw is sometimes a problem for me, so when it strikes I do it. In my present state it seems to lean toward the sadder points of my characters experiences. I really don't want to Emo the poor guy out by any means, so I hope to bring in some more happy scenes shortly, starting with re-doing a few old sketch drawings that I drew up and colored by hand in less than an hour usually.

Having my life turned upside down and inside out and stomped on a few times hopefully will make me a better artist. I'm really hoping that the added effort put into my work will improve my abilities, and in turn help get me back to my normal self. I really don't want to keep being that middle aged guy that works as a part time stock clerk and lives in a shed in his parents back yard with his two cats. That really doesn't do much for an already bruised ego, or a nearly non-existent social life. (snicker)

Keep looking for more drawings and such, and hopefully soon some sculptures.

I find it a bit saddening that, when I posted my digital art..which by the way I am totally new to, having only drawn what is posted here on DA... I got some comments or favorites often within hours.
When I posted some paintings, its gone for a week now with ...nothing.
I must not be hip or something.