Verbena Bee

The discovery of surprising healing benefits while painting with a non dominant hand happened by accident. Literally. No pun intended here but it was during recovery from a broken shoulder that I turned to painting to support my healing. At the time, I was unaware of the therapeutic possibilities. On the rare occasion when I’d needed to use my non dominant hand to do activities requiring fine motor skills, I’d felt clumsy. Why would I intentionally choose to feel this lack of control?

Anyone who has experienced an injury requiring surgery or a long recovery is familiar with the pain, frustration, anxiety and depression that often accompanies the healing process. Staying positive and focused on healing can be challenging. I was fortunate to have a great social network supporting me but I still found my mood was dipping low and my pain was high.

Physical therapy was gradually improving my mobility but it was going to be a long haul. When I reached a certain plateau, I asked my physical therapist if it would be ok to try painting for little bits of time. I’m actually right hand dominant so it would have been easy to paint but something told me to try using my injured non dominant shoulder. I loved painting and hoped the distraction would help me forget the pain. This turned out to be a game changer moment in my recovery.

At first, I struggled to lift the brush upward. My marks were sloppy and childlike. But the simple experience of moving the paint around and playing was liberating. Each day I would return to the canvas and splash around some more. I felt joy in this simple process. I also felt free of all the usual expectations and criticism that can accompany creativity. My pain would lessen and my mobility was returning. As I gradually returned to my normal life I continued painting with my non dominant hand because I felt oddly more free.

Over the years, I’ve found anytime I’m having a creative block, the return to non dominant painting frees things up. It’s also the best way I know to start any painting. Instead of staring at that blank canvas, I unleash what I’ve come to understand is a more uninhibited part of my brain. Painting is now a two handed experience. Left for letting go and right for refining details.

Last autumn I guided a diverse group of yoga students in a playful painting session. The group came from many backgrounds and life experiences. Some had never painted before or believed they could not paint. What I witnessed after gently guiding them to use their non dominant hand was delight and freedom and 15 beautiful paintings. Everyone is an artist when given a chance. I believe this in my core.

There’s science out there which offers insights into why there’s freedom when painting with the non dominant left side. The right hemisphere of the brain controls left sided activity including creativity and spatial perception. Connecting both sides of the body in this particular way feels like a great way to experience wholeness and creative expansion. It’s not a wonder there’s a number of famous left handed artists!