Fly Mosaic

In the summer of 2006, I started a drawing that would prove to be more than I bargained for. I decided, "hey, why not make a mosaic?" Nothing too special. No big deal, right?

After working on it for a few months, I started to feel pain in my arm. Instead of doing anything productive, I just drowned my pain in Advil. One day, I can remember hearing an audible 'snap!'. I finally went to a doctor & he didn't seem suprised. He gave me a list of stretches & sent me on my way. No big deal, right?

I was in the process of moving to California. I drove from Seattle using only my left arm. I wouldn't recommend it.
Anyways, I went to several doctors & physical therapists who all said that the pain was 'in my head'. I stopped using my right arm altogether. I hadn't touched a guitar or a pen in almost two years. Signing my name was excruciating. I had seen more CSI reruns than should be physically possible.

For quite a while I contemplated the worst case scenario. Maybe I could become 'the one-armed gigolo'. Maybe my time on this earth was over.

After going to the umpteenth doctor, finally one recommended an arm specialist. He was in such high demand, I had to wait 6 months to get an appointment. The day I showed up, he spent 2 minutes(!) looking at my arm & suggested an MRI. It was determined tha I had 'Tendonosis':small tears in the tendons in my arm.

Months later, I had outpatient surgery & was sent on my way. After many more months of P.T. I was finally capable of signing my name, doing menial chores etc. but no drawing.

The problem was that every time I would draw for more than 10 minutes I would create knots in my arm. Admittedly, this is a problem many artists and musicians have. I started going to massage therapists 2-3 times per week. I spent thousands of dollars. I was still relying on someone else to solve my problems.

After many hours of research(& buying many useless 'As seen on Tv' gadgets made to feed upon the helpless)I found a book that piqued my interest. 'The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" by Clair Davies. Basically, it shows you how to massage yourself(insert joke here) & where the origin of your pain may be(satellite trigger points). I would highly recommend it.

Well, here we are 3 years later, & I finally finished it. This drawing has been through 3 states(WA, CA, OR), & I'm suprised I didn't ceremoniously burn it as an offer to the art gods.

Enjoy!