How my mum used watercolour painting, healthy food and exercise, to heal her arthritis.
I always loved anything and everything that has to do with creativity! When I was growing up, my mom was always sewing, drawing, painting or making something.
My mom is an excellent chef, and cooking was her main job, but the rest of the time she always did something creative. I have a long line of creative and and artistic ancestors behind me. Before her there were more artists, for example my grandmother. YES. it makes me proud. I grew up knowing that my heart beats with excitement for all art and design.
I remember that I admired my mom´s drawings and tried to mimic her. I found her work absolutely amazing, It probably made it very easy for me to follow my family´s artistic path.
15 years ago my mom was diagnosed with arthritis in her hips. Intense pain kept her up at nights and marred her days.
She started to paint ladies with volouptuous hips having lots of fun relaxing and enjoying life. My mom says ” When I become ill, I started painting these ladies. I felt that my aching hips where as theirs. And I think they become a symbol for me, a hope that I would one day feel better, because when I painted, I didn’t feel the pain.” Incredibly, my mom become well again without an operation, after several years of daily intake of healthy foods and working out.
Her blog Elsa Wendt
click to enlarge the pictures.
Food for the Soul (my mums recipe and watercolours book)
Eventually some of these passions merged and she wrote a cookbook, filled with her amazing favourite “everyday recipes” and fun illustrations, the book became a success and has been republished a couple of times. It was written in Norwegian and there are just a handful of copys left.
Below are some images from my mum´s book.
She always make something creative out of what ever she is doing.
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Thank you for sharing the magic of creativity.
All fun paintings, Magny… I enjoyed looking at each and every one! 😀
What a wonderful story about your mother, yourself, your lineage of creativity! And the cookbook with your mum’s art. Delightful! Plus I hear of the healing power of creativity in your words and images. Thank you, Magny. Coincidentally, my most recent post is about threads of creativity through the generations too.
Keep up the good play!!!
Your post is great and touching, fun that we are posting the “same”.
Have a great day!
PS Love the chickens!
I love all of the paintings! I sure can relate as I suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis, fibromyalgia and neuropathy. I also paint and draw and it does take my mind off of the pain and feeling bad.
Hi Kathy
Sorry to hear that you have these struggles, it is important to find something to help through challenges like this. I am happy for that you too have found painting relieves the pain. When you think about it, it is just amazing that something “simple” like art can replace some painkillers and make the day easier. I have not thought so much about pain relief, but when I teach for example older people I see it helps them through a difficult times, if a loved one passes away, or when people struggle with angst and depression the art can be a good “bonus” to therapy.
Magny
The depression and anxiety go along with the physical symptoms, but I think we all have some kind of struggle to deal with. It is wonderful that art can take us away to a much happier place. Thank you so much for sharing your art and wonderful story of your mother and her art as well.
Really enjoyed the story about your mom!. Her art is wonderful! Art really does have a great healing power!
❤️❤️❤️☺️
Oh Magny how is happened that I missed this sweet post about your mom? You wont believe me but I have seen somewhere the cover of your mom coockbook I don’t remember where, but I do remember it very well because did bring me a smile when I came across with it and I remember the ladies! I just didn’t know was your mom! Wow! Lol It Is so nice to know more about you and your mom fantastic watercolors and creativity her illustrations are so cute and what a beautiful idea to illustrate her own coock book! <3 Much love to you and to your mom 😉 <3
Oh how cool is that? It maybe you found my moms blog here on WordPress? https://elsaskunst.wordpress.com Anyway It is in Norwegian so it didn´t occur to me to put the link in to the post. I am so happy you like the her artwork and what a lovely thing that it can bring a smile. I will try to get here to translate a recipe from the book… XoXox
Very idiosyncratic figures. they are very inventive. Reminds me of the British artist Beryl Cook.
AAAAA yes they do, I will show her the Beryl Cook, not sure If she know the artist. Thanks for the comment.