Flight8 x 10" Digital Print (Matte)
A running 'blade' is something that many of us see in the Paralympic Games: beautiful prosthetic feet that resemble gazelle legs flashing before our eyes. A 'blade' prosthetic foot is specifically designed to compress and store the runner's energy, only to then release that energy in a strong forward thrust at toe-off. You'd likely find that the energy return is too much 'bounce' for everyday use.
Amazingly, prosthetic limbs that are designed for specific recreational activities are not covered by most insurance companies. As a result, runners have to pay out-of-pocket or hope for charity funding. There is a moment nowadays called So Every BODY Can Move, which is seeking legislation that will, among other things, ensure insurance coverage for recreational prostheses. After all, movement is medicine. I created this artwork to mark the start of April's National Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month. What does this month mean to you? For me, it means amplifying the voices of people who live with limb loss and limb difference, as well as finding ways we can advocate on issues that affect us. Want to find a way to get involved? I highly suggest you contact the Amputee Coalition to find out how you can help raise awareness and create change. |
adaptation11 x 14" Digital Print (Matte)
We will all eventually experience changes in our mobility. It might be that we will need to walk with a cane or a walker as we become elderly. Some day, we may no longer be able to drive independently. If you've lived with a limb difference throughout childhood and adulthood, changes to mobility are nothing new. In another piece, Balance, I talk about how your method of mobility might impact how you interact with the physical world and, sometimes, the other people in it.
Adaptation is a talent. In my experience, being born with a limb difference has helped me adapt to changes in life. Adaptation, for me, is tied to a love of brainstorming - focusing on the goal while accepting that the 'how' is negotiable. |
inching inAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
I can almost feel the sun's heat in this painting, as well as the cool water teasing the bottom of my limb.
This person has two types of limb differences on the left lower limb: proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) and fibular hemimelia. These are congenital conditions that involves the underdevelopment of absence of the femur/hips and fibula respectively. PFFD at this level is often treated with surgical intervention. For example, one might undergo amputation of the foot, leaving only the heel. The limb would then be fitted with an 'above-the-knee' prosthesis. Another possible surgical intervention might be rotationplasty, where the foot is surgically rotated 180 degrees and subsequently acts as a knee joint for a 'below-the-knee' prosthetic leg. In this image, there has been no obvious surgical intervention on the left limb. The dimple on the thigh is a common feature for congenital (from birth) limb differences. It's possible that this figure has a limb difference of the right leg and/or arm as well. I was born with bilateral PFFD. I had my left foot amputated when I was a toddler so that I could be fitted with an 'above-the-knee' prosthesis. I have had no surgical intervention on my left leg. Both of my thighs have these dimples. |
woman in gown11 x 14" Digital Print (Glossy)
This piece was a fun opportunity to work with a floral background, which was a nice complement to the simplicity of this figure in bolder lines.
She's wearing a below-elbow (transradial) myoelectric prosthesis. There's more variety now in the aesthetic finishing of these prostheses, and I hinted at color coordination with her dress. There are many different suspension methods for this type of arm prosthesis. In this case, the 'wings' of this socket cradle the epicondyles, which are the bony prominences at the elbow's sides. The front and the back of the elbow joint are exposed to allow for a full range of motion. |
BALANCE9 x 12" Print (gloss)
I've practiced yoga in two short bursts. My husband and I took a few classes together, probably around fifteen years ago. Then, when I was pregnant with my second child, I took prenatal yoga. I've done it with and without my prosthesis. Although I don't follow it now (but should), I occasionally dabble. As marvelous as my prosthesis is, there's also a sense of liberation in moving without its mechanics.
Regardless of whether I wear my prosthesis or not, I'm the same person. I'm the same person on crutches. I'm the same person in a wheelchair. While these may seem like obvious statements, the method of your mobility can profoundly affect how you engage with the world. I'm currently nursing a hip injury on my 'good leg,' so I'm using my wheelchair much more. I find there's a lot more strategizing involved when I'm in my chair. I'm picturing a restaurant... Are there stairs to that outdoor seating we usually love? Am I entering into a pub table/stool nightmare scenario? Even though the way my body moves and how I interact with the physical world may change with my mode of mobility, I am still me. It's actually quite reassuring to remember that. |
taste of springAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
There's a magic that happens when you interact with the natural world. There is healing, too, in knowing that our limb-different bodies are just as natural and written in the same code as the blooms of spring.
This young girl has bilateral lower limb differences. It's unclear whether she has a congenital difference with surgical intervention to have the underdeveloped part of her legs removed. Weight-bearing on the end of amputated above-knee residual limbs is difficult. Perhaps she was born with a congenital condition and still has a portion of her leg anatomy that can naturally bear weight. She could be wearing prosthetic sockets that enable her to stand like this. Having bilateral lower limb differences means that I'm shorter than the average adult woman. I tend to wear dresses and skirts a lot because I hate hemming pants. |
PARTY DRESSAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
My parents purposefully took me out in the community with my 'little leg' exposed. I suppose they must have felt some anxiety, unsure of how the world would accept me. If so, they kept those insecurities well hidden from me. Once, in the waiting room of a children's hospital, our family sat next to another young child and her family. We were around the same age, both in early elementary school. The other mother told the little girl to tuck her 'little arm' into her shirt sleeve, to keep it hidden. I was struck by the strangeness of the suggestion and so thankful that no one had ever encouraged me to hide. Now that I'm older, I see that interaction from both the parent's and child's point of view. There's no shame in wanting to blend in, to not stand out. Certainly, as a parent, who don't want your children to experience emotional pain. We each have fluid relationships with our own bodies, oscillating between moments of insecurity and confidence.
This young child in this painting has a left limb difference near the wrist level. This could have been from birth or could have happened later. Whether or not she plans to put on a prosthesis, or go without, she is lovely. |
EPIPHANYAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
This character embodies a mythical aura, almost as if she's emerged from ancient legends. She has right-side proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), much like my own lower limb difference on the right side. The absence of her right foot, fading into the mist of her form, resonates deeply with my personal journey.
This was the first piece I created in this series. I didn't initially set out to incorporate a limb difference, but when I noticed a slight curve in a paint line, it hinted at it, and I decided to go for it. So far in this series, I've created most of the figures without prosthetic or orthotic devices. There's a certain comfort I experience when I don't wear my device. It's very tactile, as a device creates a barrier between my skin and the world. I love my prosthesis, but I also love to give my body a break from it sometimes. |
RESTAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
This was the second piece I created in this series. I find the variations in presenting proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) intriguing. As an artist, one often focuses on proportion. There are certain rules to follow, such as keeping the elbow at the same level as the belly button and recognizing that femurs are the longest bones in the body. Drawing someone with a limb difference, like PFFD, challenges these conventions. Foreshortening is a technique in art where you create the illusion of perspective, making objects appear either farther away or closer than others in the piece. A prime example is drawing a person sitting in a chair, as if you are seated across from them. You must render the knees and lower legs so they seem closer than the thighs. When drawing someone with PFFD, you need to rewrite the rules.
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BELLAAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
Sitting up can pose a challenge for a little one with multiple limb differences. Although it may not be evident from the painting, I envision her seated on a picnic blanket, with sunlight warming her back. I've named her Bella, inspired by her captivating big eyes.
Bella has both upper and lower limb differences, including the distinctive dimple on her arm. Recently, I inquired with an orthopedic surgeon about the official term for those recognizable dimples often associated with congenital limb differences. Surprisingly, they're simply referred to as dimples by medical professionals. To me, these dimples seem to mark the center of the limb difference, like the 'X' on a treasure map. The acrylic paint used in this piece is quite thick in certain areas. I love layering textures with paint, resulting in a piece that almost takes on a sculptural quality. |
BALLERINAAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
This figure mirrors my own body in many ways. She has two variations of proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), one on each side. On one leg, the femur is shortened while the lower leg remains relatively unaffected. On the other side, there's a more pronounced form of PFFD, resulting in the amputation of the foot. It's likely that her hips are also underdeveloped and congenitally dislocated.
Many viewers may not immediately discern the subtle indicators of PFFD present in this painting. Specifically, the shortened femur on one side and the distinctive shape of the residual limb on the other. Residual limbs from PFFD foot amputations typically have a conical shape with a rounded end, which is actually the heel of the amputated foot. I've always had a passion for dancing, whether it's while sitting, on the floor, or with the assistance of my prosthesis. In this artwork, she seems to defy gravity. Don't we all feel like this when we lose ourselves in dance? |
FairyPrint (gloss), Black/White 11 x 14"
I've always had a deep love for fantasy. When I was a little girl, I believed that I was truly be a mermaid, and perhaps my own limb difference was a result of some magical transformation into a human. I used to collect mermaid figures when I was young, drawn to their graceful lack of legs and their freedom in the water. I also had a strong affinity for all things fairy, especially Brian Froud's book Faeries.
Creating fantasy characters with limb differences has always been a passion of mine. Why shouldn't we be included in that fantastical realm? Heel lifts are incredibly versatile, helping individuals with various limb differences like proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) and spina bifida. While we may not know the specific limb difference of this character, one thing is for sure: she is beautiful. |
morningAcrylic on 8 x 10" stretched canvas
I painted this after a long day at work. Initially, the fabric wrapping around her was intended to be a dress. But as the evening wore on and tiredness set in, the dress transformed into a bed sheet. She appears to be either leaping into bed or just stirring from sleep.
I thoroughly enjoyed crafting the texture of the paint as I worked with the wet acrylic. This woman exhibits bilateral proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD). |