Sunday evening, after I posted, I had a very distressing experience. I had a sudden, massive amount of dark matter appear in my eye. Since my other eye has already lost 90% of its vision, I'm very protective of the one that works. I called the office of my ophthalmologist and the doctor on call told me to go to the emergency room. I was already aware that the symptoms I was experiencing could be caused by a retinal tear or detachment, so I was not surprised when I heard this.
Luckily for me it was not. It was instead a Posterior Vitreous Detachment, which means that the Vitreous (the gel-like substance in the eye) had pulled loose and the fibers that normally attached to the retina were floating around in my eye.
However, before I knew this I was a little worried ... ok, I was petrified ... and not surprisingly, my blood pressure was rather high. So the doctors in the emergency room were worried that I might be having a stroke or heart attack. They had to draw blood and run an ekg before they would finally release me. We were there until 2 am.
Yesterday, I was so tired ... physically, mentally and emotionally ... that I didn't even try to paint. Today I decided to get back in the studio. Now, remember, I still have a lot of "debris" in my eye. everything is very "grainy" and there are clumps and threads of darker areas that move around. I can see, but it's very distracting and annoying. It's at its worst when I'm looking at a light surface like a computer screen, the page of a book or a blank canvas. From what I can tell, it will be weeks (or maybe months) before it finally clears. And there is still the chance that the "pulling" of the fibers on the retina could cause a retinal tear or detachment. So I have to be alert for those symptoms.
In the meantime, it's not going to stop me from painting.
So, today I painted. I had started this with a nectarine instead of the orange. After wiping it twice, and getting very discouraged, I decided to switch to the orange. And it quickly came together. I realized that the nectarine had been too busy and contrasty and was distracting from the glass. The orange worked much better. So if I start getting all whiny about how much I hate all this stuff in my eye, and how it's so hard to paint like this, you just remind me that that is not an good excuse.
8x6 oil on Raymar canvas panel
Comes with folding wrought iron scroll stand.
14 comments:
Oh goodness Carolyn! I am so sorry you are having these problems! I would have been petrified also and I so hope for you that it heals quickly. I know that it won't keep you from painting and that is a good thing! Take care!
Oh Carolyn, I'm so sorry about your eye issues...how very frightening! Hope you are fully recovered soon. Meanwhile, I am amazed at how beautiful this piece is despite your your eye problems!
So instead of just liking this painting, I love it! I am proud that you hung in there and came out with such a beautiful painting. Love the strong orange against the grays and darks. The glass is so well painted and love the highlights.
I feel for you about the fear of losing your vision- I am a former special education teacher of young deaf/blind children so understand your concerns. You are such a wonderful artist and I just know all will be fine! Keep those paintings coming:) You are a trooper!!
OMG! How frightening! How can something like this happen? Hope it heals / you recover soon! Amazed that you're back to painting so quickly. My thoughts will be with you.
My heart started racing as I read this post. Thank God you paid attention to your body! I'm praying that everything will be back to normal soon and will not worsen.
This painting is phenomenal and even more so knowing what you just went through!
Big healing hugs
Carolyn, I thought what a beautiful painting! Then I read your post and realized that it is an amazing painting! So sorry for your ordeal. I have a daughter who has diabetes and she has experienced vision problems and many laser surgeries. But luckily at the moment she is doing great. I hope you continue to improve and experience full recovery!
Carolyn, this is a fabulous painting. No one would ever guess all you are going through with your vision by looking at this painting. I have PVD too, first in my left, now in my right with lightning flashes in peripheral vision, and initially lots of floaters and blurriness. It was like having loose hairs hanging in front of my eyes. It has gotten A LOT better. For me it took a month or two. Wishing you quick improvement!
So sorry to hear about your eye problems. Having gone through similar things, I have an idea how scary it can be. But high fives to you for your great attitude and painting ethic! Yay! Take care of yourself, and we'll all be watching for your paintings.
hope you feel better soon! your paintings are absolutely wonderful!
Wow Ms Carolyn, hope you are feeling better! Something going on with your eyes is very scary!
Love the idea that you are painting glass.
Really enjoying the martini's, I love the mirror effect!
May you be blessed with continuing improvement of your vision. The paintings are all so beautiful.
Wow! How scarey but a BIG Kudos to you for sticking to your guns and painting anyway.
I've been admiring your paintings for awhile now and now I'm absolutely in awe of your abilities after reading this post. You are an inspiring!!
Just read this tonight, Ms. Carolyn, and was very surprised to hear about your eye condition. It's inspiring to know that you are able to continue creating these beautiful works in spite of it! I am praying that it does not worsen and that you recover soon! {hugs}
I have PVD, too. Like you, I went to the eye doc very shortly after I noticed symptoms. I have one enormous floater (almost exactly in the middle of that eye's focus), and flashes in the lower right if I move my eye quickly.
Over the months the floater is less annoying, but it's surely not GONE.
Sending you sisterly sympathy thoughts. So scary, imagining living without sight, when so many of the things I like to do depend on it......
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