The Strength of Frida Kahlo, or How I'm Changing the Way I Work

Photo by Juan Guzmán, circa 1950

Yesterday, an Instagram account I follow ( @ratedmodernart ) posted the picture above of Frida Kahlo painting while bedridden. If you are not familiar with who she was, Frida Kahlo was one of Mexico's greatest artists. When she was 18, Frida was in a horrific bus accident where she sustained severe injuries and had to spend three months in a full body cast. The accident left Frida with intense chronic pain that often forced her to be bedridden for months at a time.

The easel seen in the photo was built by her parents to accommodate Frida's desire to paint while she was hospitalized post accident. She continued to use the easel throughout her life, painting masterpieces in bed.

Though our conditions are different, I share similar limitations. At this time with my chronic fatigue and chronic pain in my lower back and hip,  I can walk a little but standing and sitting in a chair causes the pain to shoot to a 9 after a few minutes. The only relief I get is laying down. I do have medications that I have been prescribed but they do little to help with the pain the hip area.

My cat hanging with me
while I bead in bed

The result is that I neglect my art. Depression and anxiety run amok turning me into a frazzled ball of doubt. I  lose the fight to stay awake as my chronic fatigue forces me to slumber for 16 to 20 hours a day. This battle has raged for three months at present. Today alone I've had to stop after 30-45 minutes, sleep for two hours, rinse, repeat.

Even though my therapist and I talked about altering how I could work, I hadn't really overcome my skepticism about it. I have a lapdesk that I sometimes use to hold up my computer to watch Netflix (not an ad) or play some games or work on small craft projects. But I am a painter as well and being able to paint in bed has been challenging.

Seeing that photo really gave me hope that I can overcome my limitations and continue to pursue my artistic endeavors. I've got some designing to do for my own bed easel (that maybe I can get my brother-in-law to make for me).

Well if Frida can do it, so can I.

XOXO
Shanna

Want to learn more about Frida Kahlo?
Go to:
FridaKahloDOTorg
Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul)
Google Arts & Culture : Frida Kahlo