After 45 years of ME/CFS, and not being able to work for most of the last 20 years my advice is to not try to get well, just live as well as you can day to day. Some days, I can undertake a project and some days I struggle to read in bed. What works best for me is pacing - not trying to do ALL the things on days when I'm feeling not too bad is key. I hate to tell you but only a very small proportion of people recover from ME/CFS. The rest of us have to learn to cope. Above all, do not try to push through the fatigue. It will only make you worse. Listen to your body and learn your limits - not so as to be limited but to know how far you can go before you need to stop and rest. And know that crashes happen, sometimes you know why, and sometimes it's out of the blue. When you're in a crash, stop and rest and wait. And if someone suggests yoga, drop that old press on their foot so they can show you their Dancing Crane at Twilight pose.
Thanks for the video - both for your splendid prints and the honest chat about balancing chronic illness with art. I’m also a painter with ME. I can only do one show a year & find that frustrating, but my wife suggested I use it as a mark of exclusivity instead - if you want a painting you have to go to that one show. It’s turned out to be a good way of reframing the limitation.
oh my this so resonates with me...also chronic fatigue and an artist... also a showing of my art recently, after hiding for 20 years and most not knowing i even painted. Sold a large painting for quite alot and some prints which made it possible to run away and hide...alas, not able to accomplish much for many weeks afterward because of this deep tiredness... i have lived with this for 35 years so far... it's a balancing act to be sure. I have learned to breathe and do inner focus work with a gentle river exhale to gently get things flowing again...but mostly i just dream and do what i can to process how to make a living (somehow it always works) doing all the things i do well but having so little energy...honestly it is a royal pain in the ass! loved your video***....thanks!
Yay, you're back. Lots of tears whilst watching this one. I had a high flying "arty" career as a entertainment industry make-up artist through the 90s and 00s. Films, music tours, television etc. Got preggers, got v sick, got preggers again, got sicker. Anyhoo, before I know it, thanks to a multi-layered illness but predominently neurological disease with a side-kick of autonomics malfunction I'm mostly bedbound. Was a type A who had to be doing something, making something, going somewhere. Now, I'm just stuck here, useful to no one, burden to everyone (of course I know this is MY perception of the situation). When I can "art" I do just that. I'm very lucky, I've been asked to do an exhibition of my work locally but I just can't produce enough pieces as like you said, it's boom or bust and when I'm good, I tend to over-do it to compensate for the majority of the time where I can do nothing. And then the inevitable happens and I'm sicker than ever for months on end and can't even "art" from bed. I don't like the fact that there are other people going through what I'm going through but it does help knowing that other people can understand your situation. As far as chronic fatigue goes. It's absolutely real. Absolutely. A cruel joke played mostly on the "go-getters" in life. I have a carer 24/7 and a disabled sticker on my car. My life is not what I imagined it to be that's for sure. However, despite blacking out 3 times today, I will get up tomorrow and just do whatever I can do to a) learn something new and b) be useful in SOME small way. By the way, I love the woodcut prints and am hoping to find them somewhere online to purchase? I've been sick for more than twenty years now and I wish I had some wisdom to pass on but it sounds like you're all over it. With much appreciation - Bee 🇦🇺 x
Hi Ben!! I’m really happy to hear that the exhibition was successful! Thanks for sharing the printing process, I’ve never seen it. “No bajes los brazos amigo”, continúa con tu arte… nosotros te seguimos 😊. Abrazo!
Loved your video and prints 🙌 and, good to see you back here. MDF though...you may want to wear a mask 😬 🙏 as it's maybe not the best health wise for cutting at close proximity. Have a wee Googly though ...🙏about it as you've maybe found a version that is safe🤞. I've been following Molly Lemon's YT's, think you'd like her process 😊. The book press you got from your pal ..what a gift 🙌. Try using the thick blanket felt, same as the blanket on an etching press, to help with pressure of emboss when printing👍. TC please 😊
Art is my health haven too. I suffered a stroke a little over a year ago. Im back to almost normal now and my art course is helping. What timing though, we just started the topic of printmaking. Not done this since school. Your setup and procedures are really inspiring. Do what you have to to stay well.
I was so happy to find your channel. I too have CFS and have been inspired by your videos. I started playing with watercolors a year ago. I have no natural talent, but find experimenting with color mixes and learning brush strokes a very pleasant way to while away the fatigue laden days. I’m starting a drawing class in a couple of weeks. At 70 I have no aspirations of making pieces worthy of sale, but it has brightened my days tremendously. Congratulations on the success of your exhibition! Your videos are truly inspiring and I am sure that people with other forms of chronic illness find them inspiring also. Thank you so much for your content.
Hi there from Aus, another chronic artist here too. I recently overdid it hosting a luncheon and am in super slow mode! And I don't use them as much as I should but I have two presses as well. A medium size etching press that I restored when I had lots of energy and a heavy ass cast iron book press like yours. I remember at uni we used the book press to print as well and we were taught to put a whole load of papers in it above and below the print. I think we used old phone book pages. Hope this helps!
Hi Ben, so pleased to see another great video I did wonder what had happened to you. congratulations on your successful exhibition so pleased for you. Your woodcuts are fantastic and I kniow how much brain power is required to work out a reduction cut. I also have a large book press which I bought in a second hand shop , I took it apart and restored it to it's former glory. I understand your frustration at having such an unpredictable condition but I think you are maging it very well taking time out when you need it and continuing with your artwork when health allows. You are a talented artist and practical thoughtful guy, keep up the good work.
What I find challenging when facing a chronic health issue, & you might be able to relate, is that my whole life I've been incredibly active & healthy & family used to have me do the heavy lifting, quite literally when it was needed as we had no man in the house to assist & now any semi heavy lifting work is less and less with long intervals between them & resting. Then folks say, you did it yesterday/last week/last year, etc... why can't you now? Even after having explain ad nauseum my health challenge. Sigh...one just keeps on keeping on as best as one can. I pray & up all my vits & minerals & that has actually helped ever so slightly. Blessings to you!
Can’t even begin to imagine how hard life would be having chronic fatigue. You are doing your best, thank you for your video, i have heard that a meat diet could help, more b6 b12 but im sure you would have tried everything. A cruel thing to have to deal with. Your projects look great.
I think you’re doing exactly the right thing, distracting your mind. I got diagnosed 15 years ago but I’m much, much better these days, knowing boundaries is definitely key. I also went to the Optimum Health Clinic in London. Ps. I Love the carvings!
Keep good people around you and socialise between painting and printing. Feed off others’ enthusiasm and energy. No man is an island, etc. Having talkback radio on as well as music is especially good company whilst absorbed in the relatively methodical and repetitive process that comes with printing. I thought your paintings were becoming better and better. All the best. 👍
Hi Benmo, happy to see a new video. They're especially interesting to me as an artist with chronic disabilities (+ my boyfriend has ME and is a musician). Theres not enough stuff accessible about artists actually making and doing with disabilities so your channel is great
Thank you for talking so open about ME. It really means a lot. I have ME as well and paint now as well, but with watercolors. It gives my life joy and a purpose. Take good care of yourself and your health. That’s more important than everything else. ME is a mean beast that strikes when you don’t expect it…
Sorry you gotta deal with that, mate. I know a few people who deal with it and it looks very difficult. If you are interested in being able to keep your woodcuts and run longer editions with them I would recommend trying duplicating the image on multiple plates and then clear coating them before you ink them up the first time. That will protect the wood from the oil in the ink and keep the surface from deterioration as quickly.
Great video. I was lucky enough in my younger days, to have been trained as an offset litho printer and a screen printer. I remember those plastic colour squares your friend gave you so well. I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue 13 years ago and have found the path that you are currently on. I was trained as a bookbinder, during my printing years and have started restoring and rebinding old books. I take my time and ration my energy. But it is all worth it. Hang in there and keep doing what you are doing. The platten problem you have, with the image being feint in the middle of the print. Have you tested the platten plates for true flatness? I know that On platter press machines, we took up any discrepancies with paper packing under the image plates to give an even surface.
So good to see you back Benmo... I've been wondering how you've been. I hadn't known you do printmaking as well as paint. You have many skills and the ability to utilise so many tools and equipment. Those woodcut prints are lovely, and that printing press is an art object itself. I do hope this flow of creativity balances well with your health issues and working as an artist can sustain you.😊💜💫
No pressure, but you were missed! I love the reduction prints. I can see how this helps distract you from how you are feeling. You have to be so focused and patient. Your resilience and your good friends are blessings.
Was wondering where you've been, your absence has been noted. Figured it was probably CFS related. Glad to see you back! Feel better! No pressure to post - we'll be here! :)
You are doing great. This illness taught me that you have to very much dance to the beat of your own drum. I'm sure you will find a balance, although I haven't yet.
Dear Wags, Chronic Fatigue is knowing that you used to be able to chef for 12 hours and day, 5 to 7 days a week and currently only being able to work 5 hours a day, 2 days a week, with a day in bed the day after your 5 hour shift, and light home duties the day after that. Why would we choose bed life when we could enjoy a full time employment and the income that goes with that? Just push through? Thanks I’ll try that… instead of being “just tired”, I’ll stop eating for days and barely hydrate. Then we can add gi issues to the cf. Or, hear me out, we could be more ready to share our stories of trying to participate in a productive society despite our cf.
After 45 years of ME/CFS, and not being able to work for most of the last 20 years my advice is to not try to get well, just live as well as you can day to day. Some days, I can undertake a project and some days I struggle to read in bed. What works best for me is pacing - not trying to do ALL the things on days when I'm feeling not too bad is key. I hate to tell you but only a very small proportion of people recover from ME/CFS. The rest of us have to learn to cope. Above all, do not try to push through the fatigue. It will only make you worse. Listen to your body and learn your limits - not so as to be limited but to know how far you can go before you need to stop and rest. And know that crashes happen, sometimes you know why, and sometimes it's out of the blue. When you're in a crash, stop and rest and wait.
And if someone suggests yoga, drop that old press on their foot so they can show you their Dancing Crane at Twilight pose.
The vintage press looks like a book press, I have a friend with a very similar one. I am new to your channel, loving your content so far!
That was my thought as well. I lust for it.
Thanks for the video - both for your splendid prints and the honest chat about balancing chronic illness with art. I’m also a painter with ME. I can only do one show a year & find that frustrating, but my wife suggested I use it as a mark of exclusivity instead - if you want a painting you have to go to that one show. It’s turned out to be a good way of reframing the limitation.
oh my this so resonates with me...also chronic fatigue and an artist... also a showing of my art recently, after hiding for 20 years and most not knowing i even painted. Sold a large painting for quite alot and some prints which made it possible to run away and hide...alas, not able to accomplish much for many weeks afterward because of this deep tiredness... i have lived with this for 35 years so far... it's a balancing act to be sure. I have learned to breathe and do inner focus work with a gentle river exhale to gently get things flowing again...but mostly i just dream and do what i can to process how to make a living (somehow it always works) doing all the things i do well but having so little energy...honestly it is a royal pain in the ass! loved your video***....thanks!
Yay, you're back. Lots of tears whilst watching this one. I had a high flying "arty" career as a entertainment industry make-up artist through the 90s and 00s. Films, music tours, television etc. Got preggers, got v sick, got preggers again, got sicker. Anyhoo, before I know it, thanks to a multi-layered illness but predominently neurological disease with a side-kick of autonomics malfunction I'm mostly bedbound. Was a type A who had to be doing something, making something, going somewhere. Now, I'm just stuck here, useful to no one, burden to everyone (of course I know this is MY perception of the situation). When I can "art" I do just that. I'm very lucky, I've been asked to do an exhibition of my work locally but I just can't produce enough pieces as like you said, it's boom or bust and when I'm good, I tend to over-do it to compensate for the majority of the time where I can do nothing. And then the inevitable happens and I'm sicker than ever for months on end and can't even "art" from bed. I don't like the fact that there are other people going through what I'm going through but it does help knowing that other people can understand your situation. As far as chronic fatigue goes. It's absolutely real. Absolutely. A cruel joke played mostly on the "go-getters" in life. I have a carer 24/7 and a disabled sticker on my car. My life is not what I imagined it to be that's for sure. However, despite blacking out 3 times today, I will get up tomorrow and just do whatever I can do to a) learn something new and b) be useful in SOME small way. By the way, I love the woodcut prints and am hoping to find them somewhere online to purchase? I've been sick for more than twenty years now and I wish I had some wisdom to pass on but it sounds like you're all over it. With much appreciation - Bee 🇦🇺 x
Hi Ben!! I’m really happy to hear that the exhibition was successful!
Thanks for sharing the printing process, I’ve never seen it.
“No bajes los brazos amigo”, continúa con tu arte… nosotros te seguimos 😊. Abrazo!
Congratulations on your successful exhibition! The wood carvings/printings are gorgeous!
Loved your video and prints 🙌 and, good to see you back here. MDF though...you may want to wear a mask 😬 🙏 as it's maybe not the best health wise for cutting at close proximity. Have a wee Googly though ...🙏about it as you've maybe found a version that is safe🤞. I've been following Molly Lemon's YT's, think you'd like her process 😊.
The book press you got from your pal ..what a gift 🙌. Try using the thick blanket felt, same as the blanket on an etching press, to help with pressure of emboss when printing👍. TC please 😊
Art is my health haven too.
I suffered a stroke a little over a year ago. Im back to almost normal now and my art course is helping. What timing though, we just started the topic of printmaking. Not done this since school.
Your setup and procedures are really inspiring.
Do what you have to to stay well.
I was so happy to find your channel. I too have CFS and have been inspired by your videos. I started playing with watercolors a year ago. I have no natural talent, but find experimenting with color mixes and learning brush strokes a very pleasant way to while away the fatigue laden days. I’m starting a drawing class in a couple of weeks. At 70 I have no aspirations of making pieces worthy of sale, but it has brightened my days tremendously.
Congratulations on the success of your exhibition! Your videos are truly inspiring and I am sure that people with other forms of chronic illness find them inspiring also. Thank you so much for your content.
Hi there from Aus, another chronic artist here too. I recently overdid it hosting a luncheon and am in super slow mode! And I don't use them as much as I should but I have two presses as well. A medium size etching press that I restored when I had lots of energy and a heavy ass cast iron book press like yours. I remember at uni we used the book press to print as well and we were taught to put a whole load of papers in it above and below the print. I think we used old phone book pages. Hope this helps!
Hi Ben, so pleased to see another great video I did wonder what had happened to you. congratulations on your successful exhibition so pleased for you. Your woodcuts are fantastic and I kniow how much brain power is required to work out a reduction cut. I also have a large book press which I bought in a second hand shop , I took it apart and restored it to it's former glory. I understand your frustration at having such an unpredictable condition but I think you are maging it very well taking time out when you need it and continuing with your artwork when health allows. You are a talented artist and practical thoughtful guy, keep up the good work.
What I find challenging when facing a chronic health issue, & you might be able to relate, is that my whole life I've been incredibly active & healthy & family used to have me do the heavy lifting, quite literally when it was needed as we had no man in the house to assist & now any semi heavy lifting work is less and less with long intervals between them & resting. Then folks say, you did it yesterday/last week/last year, etc... why can't you now? Even after having explain ad nauseum my health challenge. Sigh...one just keeps on keeping on as best as one can. I pray & up all my vits & minerals & that has actually helped ever so slightly. Blessings to you!
Me too
Can’t even begin to imagine how hard life would be having chronic fatigue. You are doing your best, thank you for your video, i have heard that a meat diet could help, more b6 b12 but im sure you would have tried everything. A cruel thing to have to deal with. Your projects look great.
I think you’re doing exactly the right thing, distracting your mind. I got diagnosed 15 years ago but I’m much, much better these days, knowing boundaries is definitely key. I also went to the Optimum Health Clinic in London. Ps. I Love the carvings!
Keep good people around you and socialise between painting and printing. Feed off others’ enthusiasm and energy. No man is an island, etc. Having talkback radio on as well as music is especially good company whilst absorbed in the relatively methodical and repetitive process that comes with printing. I thought your paintings were becoming better and better. All the best. 👍
Hi Benmo, happy to see a new video. They're especially interesting to me as an artist with chronic disabilities (+ my boyfriend has ME and is a musician). Theres not enough stuff accessible about artists actually making and doing with disabilities so your channel is great
love your work... you can fix the older press by either flattening the surface or adding a stiffer plate on top of the warped deck.
Thank you for talking so open about ME. It really means a lot. I have ME as well and paint now as well, but with watercolors. It gives my life joy and a purpose.
Take good care of yourself and your health. That’s more important than everything else. ME is a mean beast that strikes when you don’t expect it…
Sorry you gotta deal with that, mate. I know a few people who deal with it and it looks very difficult. If you are interested in being able to keep your woodcuts and run longer editions with them I would recommend trying duplicating the image on multiple plates and then clear coating them before you ink them up the first time. That will protect the wood from the oil in the ink and keep the surface from deterioration as quickly.
Great video. I was lucky enough in my younger days, to have been trained as an offset litho printer and a screen printer. I remember those plastic colour squares your friend gave you so well.
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue 13 years ago and have found the path that you are currently on. I was trained as a bookbinder, during my printing years and have started restoring and rebinding old books. I take my time and ration my energy. But it is all worth it. Hang in there and keep doing what you are doing.
The platten problem you have, with the image being feint in the middle of the print. Have you tested the platten plates for true flatness? I know that On platter press machines, we took up any discrepancies with paper packing under the image plates to give an even surface.
Ah Ben, my heart goes out to you
Nice to see you.
So good to see you back Benmo... I've been wondering how you've been. I hadn't known you do printmaking as well as paint. You have many skills and the ability to utilise so many tools and equipment. Those woodcut prints are lovely, and that printing press is an art object itself. I do hope this flow of creativity balances well with your health issues and working as an artist can sustain you.😊💜💫
Congratulations on your successful exhibition. Also, for sharing your strategy around managing your energy levels while maintaining your creativity.
No pressure, but you were missed! I love the reduction prints. I can see how this helps distract you from how you are feeling. You have to be so focused and patient. Your resilience and your good friends are blessings.
always glad to see another video pop up. im sure you will figure it out. i love prints. also easier to ship ;)
Was wondering where you've been, your absence has been noted. Figured it was probably CFS related. Glad to see you back! Feel better! No pressure to post - we'll be here! :)
You are doing great. This illness taught me that you have to very much dance to the beat of your own drum. I'm sure you will find a balance, although I haven't yet.
What is that absolutely gorgeous song at around the 8 minute mark?
Why not lino prints?
Dear Wags,
Chronic Fatigue is knowing that you used to be able to chef for 12 hours and day, 5 to 7 days a week and currently only being able to work 5 hours a day, 2 days a week, with a day in bed the day after your 5 hour shift, and light home duties the day after that. Why would we choose bed life when we could enjoy a full time employment and the income that goes with that?
Just push through? Thanks I’ll try that… instead of being “just tired”, I’ll stop eating for days and barely hydrate. Then we can add gi issues to the cf.
Or, hear me out, we could be more ready to share our stories of trying to participate in a productive society despite our cf.