A loss of humerus

This is all by way of explanation for why this blog might have big gaps in posting from time to time in the next few months.

As I get older (70 last birthday!) I seem to spend more and more of my time engaged in:

• dealing with current health issues - which is mostly about bone rubbing on bone
• managing future health appointments
• attending such appointments
• having surgery to correct the bone-on-bone
• recovering from surgery

My other half has decided to join in the fun as well. After his recent medical emergency, he now also has a set of appointments etc he wants me to attend as well.

Over and above this I still need to do my exercise every day to keep my osteoarthritis at bay. That's as in "not deteriorating any faster than it is already".

Anatomical Studies of the Shoulder - by Leonardo da Vinci

Last week I had surgery as a preliminary to my reverse shoulder replacement - hopefully in the next few months. I have bone-on-bone arthritis in my shoulder with "significant glenoid retroversion of 20 degrees"

Unlike my ankle fusion (just two titanium pins), my new shoulder will have quite a lot of kit inside AND wants to be kept rested for something like six weeks post surgery. So I'm already practising doing everything with one arm.

a lot of kit for a reverse shoulder replacement

Plus my knees have suddenly started hurting a LOT in the last 6 weeks or so - and I suspect I've probably lost a big chunk of cartilage in my right knee (given I'm now very experienced in how osteoarthritis progresses)

So in top of everything else, I now have 

• shoulder exercises to do before the surgery; 
• plus I'll be in a sling for several weeks afterwards and then doing yet more exercises to get my range of movement back (it's very limited at the moment).
• Plus I need to do my new knees exercises to stop me falling over while I've only got one operational arm!

Last week I did rather a lot at the beginning of the week - surgery on Monday, followed by two major exhibitions on Tuesday - after which I could barely walk and flaked out for most of the rest of the week.

I obviously also need to work more on my expenditure of energy and remembering to rest!

At the moment, I'm late on

• my review of the RI Annual Exhibition
• my review of the LAOTY Series
• other stuff I have on my list of things to write about

and I will get round to them as quickly as I can - commensurate with getting all my exercise done and not getting too tired.

So please bear with me. I'm not giving up this blog - but from time to time my body is giving up on me - and needs my attention!

I do find it easier to post "quickies" on my Making A Mark Facebook Page - so if you do want contact and to see what I've noticed, do please follow me there at https://www.facebook.com/makingamark2/

Alcohol Inks - information and WARNINGS about use!

I'm guessing that after this week's LAOTY Episode (see Review: Episode 5 Landscape Artist of the Year 2025 - Dinorwic Slate Quarry) there's going to be a fair few people dashing out to buy and try alcohol inks.

What I didn't realise is that this programme should have come with some health and safety warnings!

I went looking for more information about acohol inks as I was sure that others, like me, wanted to know more about them

I'm very glad I did - because this post about ALCOHOL INKS now includes some significant WARNINGS!!

Below ARE my quick jottings of what seem to me like decent sites providing more information about  alcohol inks.  I looked at a lot of different articles and snaffled a few words and phrases from some of them i.e. I am NOT an expert. 

If you know more and/or better, please let me know

Alcohol Inks

Alcohol Inks - what makes them different?
Photo by noah eleazar on Unsplash

What are they?

Interestingly, there isn't an article on Wikipedia about them! Despite the fact they are both toxic and dangerous!

BOTTOM LINE: DO NOT USE THEM ON A WHIM: I've learned enough to now know that you need to know a LOT before using them. 

DO NOT LET CHILDREN WORK WITH ALCOHOL INKS

Alcohol Inks - the UPSIDE

I'm back - but slowing down and walking more!

Summer break is over, health matters are in hand and moving and I'm about to resume blogging again - and I'm very nearly 70!

Study of bodily proportions by Albrecht Durer
British Library Treasures Exhibition

I've made a lot of progress with my health issues which were causing concern....

• I've had my hips x-rayed and endless blood tests
• I've had my pre-treatment chat with the physio and start early October
• Plus I've also got an appointment in early October to see the Orthopeadic people at the Surgery Centre about the hip - and then we'll work out whether it's going to shoulder replacement and then hip replacement or hip and then shoulder. (The shoulder replacement got 'bumped' in 2020 when I chose to do the ankle fusion first!)
• plus a couple of lengthy chats with my GP about the results of various tests and we're getting other issues sorted as well
• and I'm on new medication!

So steady progress and fewer worries on the health front. (see I need to take a break - before my hip does!)

I'm also very, very committed to my long walk every day - as it's the only time I feel normal (as per NICE recommendations for those with osteoarthritis).This might sound very odd for somebody with severe osteoarthritis. However, exercise helps enormously with both functionality and mobility and keeps my musculature etc in good nick for the next time I'll be relearning how to walk. No matter how much your skeleton falls apart, the bits that actually keep you walking are the tendons and ligaments!

I'm now averaging over 6,000 steps a day - which can take a long time depending on the route I take and what I stop to see en route

Average steps from my daily walk

One day this week my walk comprised walking 

• from the David Hockney Auction Exhibition at Phillips in Berkeley Square (the auction was held yesterday) 
• down to the Green and Stone Gallery on the Fulham Road in Chelsea for a PV for the Amicus Botanicus Exhibition (which is on until Saturday) 
• through Mayfair, Hyde Park, along and through Knightsbridge and into Chelsea.

The key thing is to keep finding places to walk to with interesting things to look at!

However I'm still as STIFF as a board in the evening and extremely unsteady on my feet after about 8pm - which continues to be very worrying. I'm thinking about installing grab rails at key points....

So, in terms of going forward....

• #1 priority is getting health matters sorted - so I can continue to enjoy life. 
• #2 priority is a steady unrelenting focus on keeping mobile - to keep me safe and avoid becoming even more decrepit
• #3 priority is I'm 70 next month - and I've decided I'm going to become more choosy as to how I spend my time
• #4 priority is writing about art - but more selectively.  Some posts might become more picture oriented which can be quicker to do.... I'll certainly still be writing about
• annual exhibitions of national art societies
• major art competitions - including those on television!
• #5 priority - is to mine what I've written in the past and make it available one way or another. This blog heas nearly 20 years of archives!! I'm thinking about 
• resurrecting past posts via Facebook - as I've been doing recently (and maybe Instagram) and 
• maybe writing ebooks - based on past projects and talks.
• maybe doing more Zoom talks.

How about you - how are you prioritising matters as your life progresses?

I need to take a break - before my hip does!

I'm currently trying to deal with and sort out some health issues which have cropped up recently and which I need to understand better and also get addressed.

So I'm having a bit of a break - while you're all on your summer holidays and/or watching the Olympics! :)

It's essentially a progression of my Osteoarthritis - which to date has been defined as:

• severe OA: bone on bone in ankle - sorted via the Ankle Fusion Surgery
• severe OA: bone on bone in shoulder - I need a shoulder replacement
• pain in right hip - back at the end of 2021, both hips were x-rayed before the ankle surgery and it was determined I had osteoarthritis in my hips too. Essentially this meant "do nothing but keep under review"

bilateral degenerative changes in the hip joints with lateral osteophyte formation and reduction in joint space.

Image courtesy of OrthoInfo

However, something changed radically and very suddenly recently.  Maybe a big chunk of cartilage has broken off? My right hip is now making me very stiff at night, tries really hard to collapse and generally inhibits/prevents me from walking at night or early morning. I sometimes cannot move. It's rather like walking on glass. I'm now very concerned about falling at night.

I think maybe the amount of time I was on my feet standing during a couple of exhibitions / private views in June and July has maybe triggered it - so I now need to be VERY careful.

The odd thing is I'm more or less OK if I'm walking during the day - which I do every day for my ankle and hip (as per NICE recommendations for those with osteoarthritis). In fact, the fact I'm mobilising during the day is entirely due to NOT sitting down and mobilising during the day. 

• doing regular and consistent exercise, even though this may initially cause pain or discomfort, will be beneficial for their joints
• long-term adherence to an exercise plan increases its benefits by reducing pain and increasing functioning and quality of life

However the walking  and getting up and down and doing things (e.g. housework) on an hourly basis takes up a LOT of time and makes finding time for writing a tad more difficult!

BUT I'm now finding it very, very difficult to walk at night or early morning after sitting or lying down - as in I'm incredibly stiff, can barely move at times and can only walk with difficulty, hanging on to stuff! The prospect of falling and maybe fracturing my hip is a very real concern. 

I'm slapping on the Voltarol, have started taking painkillers again and am also doing specific exercises. Plus we're thinking about installing proper rails and me using a frame at night.

Bottom line I need to get my hip scanned again - I suspect I've moved to bone on bone - and work out with the doctors what's the best way forward. Which I very much suspect will probably be injections while I wait for a hip replacement.

Plus I've got some other issues which need sorting which are also complicating matters.

I'll be back by September - maybe sooner.

Making A Mark is 18 years old!

Making A Mark is now an adult - and 18 years old! ;)

I should have really done this on Friday which was this blog's 18th birthday in terms of "going public" - but I've been having a major clear out and chuck event - which will continue this week aka "no tubes running all week and it's freezing as well" 

What happened in 2023

Making A Mark continues to have followers all over the world - mainly but not exclusively from people in English speaking countries

This is the map of where visits came from in the last year.

In 2023, this blog had 

• c.250k visitors for what I think was an average of just under 3 blog posts a week
• 1,159,103 pageviews according to Blogger during the last 12 months - which is just under 100k pageviews a month.

Not bad going for somebody who is semi-retired - at least from daily blogging!

Making A Mark at 18

What's happening in 2024

The main event in 2024 is that I will hit my 70th birthday.

I started to wind down from daily posting back when I was 65. As age and the osteoarthritis progresses, I've become ever more conscious of needing to spend time 

• keeping me mobile - hence a lengthy walk every day, which is the only time I feel like I used to when I was younger. Notwithstanding I can barely move in the evening after sitting down for too long.....
• being able to do things while I'm still around  
• being able to do things with my partner is still around - in sound body and mind

So I won't be looking to increase what continues to feel like a diminished rate of posting for somebody who blogged on a daily basis for years.

What I will be doing is endeavouring to introduce people to more of my archive of 4,469 posts about art since January 2006. 

• Especially as a number of them were on thematic subjects and posted over a period of time. For example, back in 2007, I was starting my Van Gogh Project - see Introduction to the Van Gogh Project
• Plus highlighting some blog posts from the same month in previous years. Such as 
• Skating and sketching in London (2007)
• Holbein in England - and at Tate Britain (2007)
• Plant Motifs and Art (#2) at the V&A (2007)

Plus continuing to post on things which interest me - particularly art society exhibitions / open competitions and popular art programmes on television.

But I am very gradually slowing down to make more time for me.....

Golden Oldie #3: Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Do you get pains in your hand or wrist when using art media? Do you ignore them - or do you recognise the need to make sure you don't ruin your grip?

Speaking as somebody with a connective tissue disorder and severe osteoarthritis, I find myself learning new things, again and again, about how to keep going despite the fact that joint cartilage keeps disappearing and joints need attention - including significant surgery. (One ankle fusion done, shoulder replacement and hip replacement on the agenda next!)

I'm very mindful of looking after your limbs and the bits of your body that move when you make art. Particularly those bits which are relevant to holding art materials in your hand with a decent grip and being able to use your arm. 

That means for me, that I've actually had to stop gripping art media in my hand for any length of time.....

My second wrist splint for my hand I used to grip art media with
- emphasis on the "used to"

Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

My post about Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) was published in June 2016. 

It started thus....

Too many artists suffer from repetitive strain injuries (RSI). In addition, too many artists know too little about:

• how to avoid RSI
• how best to deal with RSI

Too often, health and safety issues for artists relate purely to hazards associated with art materials. In my opinion, there is far too little focus on the hazards that certain working practices can have on your anatomy.

The post covers:

• What is RSI?
• Other common RSI or RSI related conditions
• How do artists get repetitive strain injury?
• How do artists make RSI worse?
• How do artists alleviate RSI symptoms - and make art? - which includes LOTS of suggestions of ways in which you can avoid a problem and alleviate the one you have.

Making a Mark is 17 years old. What next?

This blog first went public on 5th January 2005. It's now 17 years old AND has just passed 19 million pageviews from nearly 6 million visitors.

The statistics run continuously in the right hand column in desktop or tablet view

Making A Mark's Visitors come predominantly, as you would expect, from English speaking countries. 

However, despite reduced blogging over the last 18 months of the surgery and recovery journey - it continues to have a global presence as you can see from the map of last year's visitors. 

The red dots are locations which generated visitors in 2022.

The Top 10 countries which generated the most visits are listed below in order of the total number of locations in each country

1. the UK - 2152 locations
2. the USA - 5685 locations
3. Canada - 650 locations
4. Australia - 1105 locations
5. India - 283 locations
6. Ireland - 147 locations
7. France - 715 locations
8. Germany - 512 locations
9. Philippines - 110 locations
10. Netherlands - 280 locations

Others generating more than a 1,000 visits included: New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Many thanks to those who think Making A Mark worth a visit or opening an email on a recurrent basis. You are the people who really keep this blog going!

For the first 10 years, I was publishing blog posts on an almost daily basis (usually with a "day off" on Saturday!) - including my very popular "Who's made a mark this week" post every Sunday. I gather many people thought there was a team behind the blog - but although it regularly ranked in top art blogs it's only ever been me!

In 2006, I published 348 blog posts!

When I got to 60, I retired AGAIN - but also started two new websites! I now publish roughly 150-200 Making A Mark posts each year - generally during the week - with rather less this year due to the surgery/recovery during February-April 2022.

The Future

I'm loathe to give up my "first born" and anticipate continuing blogging into the future. 

HOWEVER I now have much less time for blogging as I MUST spend very significant time each day taking exercise to stop myself completely seizing up with osteoarthritis and/or falling - because it's in my ankle, both hips and shoulder.

So now, age 68, my main priority is to walk daily with a focus on creating new challenges for myself e.g. increased steps, reducing how many times I need to sit down, how long I can walk  without a stick, walking up and down inclines etc etc. (PS Never ever take mobility for granted - keep moving!)

I'm pleased to say my daily walking is having a beneficial impact. Apple Health has a great walking steadiness measure and since I started walking again in May (after my surgery and the three months on one leg and a knee scooter) I've gone from "Very Low" to almost "OK" over the last 7 months and have significantly reduced my risk of falling most of the time..... However I'm still very stiff and often stumble whenever I start to walk though - which remains a significant concern.

Bottom line - my challenge going forward is to work out how to write about art while walking! I've no problem rabbiting away while doing Zoom Art Business Talks, so I need to have a ponder.....

NOTE: I'm currently "on a seasonal break" BUT will be back next week - and one of my first posts will be about the Call for Entries for the RA Summer Exhibition 2023.

Getting fit and ready for surgery

A quick note just to say that during August, there won't be so many blog posts. What's currently way more important than blogging is resolving my severe ankle arthritis problem i.e. remove the pain and the scope to grind to a halt when walking!

So I need to:

1. Get fit for surgery on my ankle (see Ever so slightly distracted) - which I've been doing for weeks already - hence the dropping off of blog posts
2. Source / ordering / practising with all the aids I'll need - which is ratcheting up right now
3. Organise my home differently to make moving around a lot easier - lots of measuring coming up - plus moving furniture around and clutter out the door! Which must be done in August!

Which might sound a bit over the top if you don't know I'm facing 

• up to a minimum of six weeks and maybe three months or more on ONE LEG! 
• Absolutely 100% non weight-bearing on right ankle for 6 weeks minimum.
• Plus elevation ("Nose to toe") of operated ankle for weeks (and weeks) on end.  

Absolutely no cartilage left in my right ankle
This is what bone grinding on bone looks like!

I'm having either an ankle replacement or an ankle fusion (not decided yet) are both way, way more difficult and challenging than knee replacements or hip replacements.

If I have the ankle fusion I need to keep the ankle completely immobile while it grows bone to fuse the ankle so I have no movement - and no pain!

Unfortunately the left leg which has to move me around is also a leg which has had a major injury (I tore the meniscus in 2016) and that has taken ages to get anywhere back to normal so getting fit for surgery is a really, really serious matter for me.

That said I've lost 36kg so far (or 5.7 stone in "real money") in the last 13 months in order to try and make life easier.  There's a really huge incentive to lose weight when you realise you can't move a muscle when using crutches!

(Did I mention my severe osteoarthritis means I also need a shoulder replacement!!)

This is what the new slimline me looks like. I'm getting friends saying they hardly recognise me

Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing

I posted a link on Facebook this morning about the links between art and health - and it obviously was something that lots of people identified with.

Why GPs prescribing arts activities to some patients could lead to a dramatic fall in hospital admissions and save the NHS money

So here is the link - plus

• the report which triggered this 
• other articles 
• some more links about how art interfaces with health and how arts activities arts can lead to better health

The Report

The report which triggered the articles is Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing | All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing

You can Download it

You can View online

Articles about Art and Health

The Guardian Articles

• Arts can help recovery from illness and keep people well, report says - All-party inquiry demonstrates benefits to health and wellbeing of the arts, leading to fall in hospital admissions
• 'It's time to recognise the contribution arts can make to health and wellbeing' - The arts help meet challenges in health and social care associated with ageing, loneliness, long-term conditions and mental health
• 'Creativity improves wellbeing': art transforms mental health ward - A psychiatric ward in London has been given a makeover, with work donated by artists and workshops for patients

Organisations about Art and Health

In the UK

• London Arts in Health Forum (LAHF) - a membership organisation which aims to develop the role of culture in wellbeing and to promote and support arts in health activity across London and nationally (Twitter account: Arts in Health Forum @LAHFArtsHealth )
• National Alliance for Arts Health and Wellbeing: a voice and resource for arts and health activity.
• The All Party Parliamentary Group for Arts, Health and Wellbeing

Interestingly I could fine very little about art and health outside the UK - and wnhat I found was on the Resources Page of the LAHF

Artists and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Too many artists suffer from repetitive strain injuries (RSI). In addition, too many artists know too little about:

• how to avoid RSI
• how best to deal with RSI

Too often, health and safety issues for artists relate purely to hazards associated with art materials. In my opinion, there is far too little focus on the hazards that certain working practices can have on your anatomy.

This post looks at what is RSI, why artists gets it; how to make it worse and how to make life more tolerable if you get it - and hopefully recover from it.

At the end there are some references to other websites where artists talk about the impact of RSI.

What is RSI?

RSI stands for repetitive strain injury.

RSI is an umbrella term for a range of muscular skeletal disorders rather than a condition.  It's a general term used to describe a related set of problems associated with a variety of very specific injuries or disorders affecting muscles and/or tendons and/or other soft tissue which have very specific names.

• Type 1 RSI relates to a specific disorder which a doctor can diagnose. These have recognised treatments.
• Type 2 RSI is a more generalised disorder where diagnosis in terms of a specific condition is more difficult.

RSI for Artists generally afflicts some part of the arm - the fingers, wrist, forearm, elbow, shoulders - and can also affect the neck and/or upper back.

RSI Symptoms include:

• intense pain
• dull aching or tenderness
• stiffness
• throbbing
• burning
• tingling 
• numbness
• swelling
• weakness / reduced dexterity
• cramp
• inability to grip or lift

Dealing with the intensity of the symptoms can make people very tired.

My particular version of RSI is called tenosynovitis - see NHS page on Tendonitis and other tendon injuries. It runs from the index finger of my right (drawing) hand across the back of my hand, across my wrist, around the back of my forearm into my elbow and then up my arm. I have a semi-permanent swelling on the back of my hand below the index finger knuckle which is where the injury is particularly bad.

The practical impact is:

• I can't grip anything in my right hand either tightly or for too long. 
• I can only draw using certain techniques eg hatching is very easy; drawing small changes in line very precisely is not
• I can't use my right hand continuously for too long - I need to take lots of short breaks
• I must use a soft keyboard. I'm completely unable to use a keyboard which has any vibration as I'm in agony very quickly if I do.
• Sometimes I have to wear a brace which maintains my palm and wrist in one position - but allows me to flex my fingers

My new wrist splint - the last one was very well used!
On the whole I need this less now as I'm much better at protecting myself

(Note: I'm not going to try and describe all the conditions in this post - however I am going to link to decent websites which do provide more authoritative information)

Other common RSI or RSI related conditions

I've referenced the relevant NHS information site which provides an introduction and information about causes, symptoms and treatment

• Bursitis / Tennis elbow: The sac of fluid around a joint is injured due to a spain or irritated due to overuse /repetitive strain. This leads to swelling. See NHS Choices - Bursitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:  This is where the Median Nerve which passes through the wrist becomes irritated. Symptoms include tingling, numbness and pain of the thumb and/or index finger, middle finger or third finger. Dexterity becomes reduced. See NHS Choices: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Dupuytren's contracture: This condition causes the hand to close - with fingers being towards the palm of your hand See  NHS - Dupuytren's Contracture
• Ganglion - a fluid-filled lump or nodule can be caused by repetitive strain. They often develop on the wrist. See NHS - Ganglion cyst
• Epicondylitis – inflammation of the area where bone and tendon join, such as the elbow. It causes pain and tenderness on the outside of your elbow and pain when twisting or lifting or bending. See NHS - Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Shoulder Pain eg Rotator Cuff disorder (which I experienced recently) - Normal movement is reduced and painful. Inability to lift or twist the arm. See NHS - Shoulder pain

Other conditions which can also be related or affected include:

• Osteoarthritis - the most common form of arthritis which often affects the small joints of the hand. Symptoms include joint pain or tenderness. There is no cure but you can reduce its impact and treat symptoms. See NHS - Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis - an auto immune disease which damages tendons, cartilage and bone. Symptoms involve throbbing, stiffness and pain. See NHS Rheumatoid arthritis

How do artists get repetitive strain injury?

Artists get RSI for the same sorts of reasons that other people with vocational activities get RSI.

The most common reasons for RSI injuries are:

• repetitive strain - overuse of the muscles / tendons in a way which is continued
• poor posture and/or holding the same posture for too long without a break
• working for too long without a break
• poor and/or cold working working environment
• use of tools which require force or can cause a strain
• vibration of tools held or used

Basically if you exhibit bad posture and keep using the same muscle groups over and over again, day after day for long periods

• sooner or later you will find that you start to get aches and pains; 
• those aches and pains will in due course become more painful; 
• if the tendons or tissue becomes inflamed and/or if the nerve(s) become involved you will experience intense pain;
• if you continue and don't take appropriate action you may experience paralysis and/or a total inability to perform normal functions.

The other most common reason is that artists don't get enough education in why certain working practices make them a "sitting duck" for RSI.

You may also be predisposed (like me) to problems if you have a connective tissue disorder.

How do artists make RSI worse?

Threat to Cadmium in Artists' Colours lifted by European Union

Artists Oil Colours
- Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium Orange

Due to all the action taken by various art materials people, scientists, art magazines and lots and lots of artists, the European Union have announced they have agreed NOT to proceed with the proposed ban on cadmium in artists' paints.

Some people will have read my previous posts on the proposed ban of Cadmium Paint:

• Will Cadmium be banned in artists' paints in Europe? (23 Jun 2014) A review of the proposal to ban the use of Cadmium in artists' paints in Europe.
• A Rethink: about proposed ban on Cadmium in artists' paints (16 Dec 2014) - Relates to an apparent change of mind
• Petition to UK MEPs: Stop the EU ban of cadmium in artist's paints (17 Dec 2014) Highlighted a petition seeking to ensure the use of cadmium in artists' paints is NOT banned by the EU.

Plus I highlighted the good news from the EU on my Facebook Page last week.

However I always like to track down the official announcement when something very important gets reported in newspapers and magazines....

So for those who like to read the real thing....

OFFICIAL Announcement

This is the official announcement by the European Commission The Commission will not restrict cadmium in artists’ paint (Published on: 28/10/2015)

I'm reproducing the summary below - but the bold is mine

In 2013, Sweden proposed to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to prohibit placing cadmium and its compounds for use in artists' paint on the EU market, and to prohibit the use of such paints and pigments.

After careful evaluation by ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment and Committee for Socioeconomic Analysis, the European Commission concludes that the presence of cadmium in artists' paints does not present an unacceptable risk to human health.
Accordingly, the restriction procedure initiated by Sweden is terminated.

Read the entire Communication here:
Commission communication on the termination of the restriction process on cadmium in artists' paints under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

Extract from the Communication:

"Conclusions

The Commission concludes that, from indirect exposure via the environment through the release of cadmium to waste water and the application of sewage sludge on agricultural soil, the presence of cadmium in artists' paints does not present an unacceptable risk to human health giving rise to a need to restrict the placing on the market of cadmium or its compounds for use in artists' paints, or to restrict the use of artists' paints containing cadmium or its compounds.

The Commission considers that the conditions laid down in Article 68 of REACH, and referred to in Article 73(1), are not fulfilled and will therefore not prepare a draft amendment to Annex XVII requiring a decision under Article 73(2) of REACH. Accordingly, the restriction procedure initiated by Sweden is terminated.

Since Title VIII of REACH harmonises the conditions for the manufacture, use and placing on the market of chemical substances, measures equivalent to those that have been examined in the course of a restriction procedure under that Title and did not ultimately result in the adoption of a new restriction or the amendment of an existing restriction under Article 73(2) of REACH may not be maintained or introduced by Member States, unless there is new evidence that would necessitate a renewed evaluation.”

More Articles

Others who have commented on the news include:

• The Art Newspaper - European artists free to paint the town red (and yellow and orange)
• Spectrum Artists Paints - Cadmium Pigments saved 
• Jackson's Art Blog - Breaking News – Cadmium Paints Saved!

How art changes your brain - the well-being value of drawing and painting to older people

This is about a recent study about the impact of drawing and painting and art appreciation on the mental health and well-being of older people.

Left Brain Right Brain

A recent post to my Facebook Page has been very well received - and I didn't want to deprive those of you who are not on Facebook!

Would you like to generate "a significant improvement in psychological resilience"? Start drawing and painting in your old age! Art appreciation doesn't work as well as actually making and creating!
Study Finds Making Art May Keep Our Brains Healthy | Hyperallergic 

The article referenced above summarises the research.

For those who would like to know more you can read the actual research findings in this study report How Art Changes Your Brain: Differential Effects of Visual Art Production and Cognitive Art Evaluation on Functional Brain Connectivity

It starts by making a statement which was new to me.

Recent research on visual art has focused on its psychological and physiological effects, mostly in clinical populations. It has shown that visual art interventions have stabilizing effects on the individual by reducing distress, increasing self-reflection and self-awareness, altering behaviour and thinking patterns, and also by normalizing heart rate, blood pressure, or even cortisol levels[1], [2], [3], [4], [5].

It then explains the hypothesis of the study and what they did to test it. I'm missing out all the deeply scientific bits below!

Hypothesis

The hypothesis was that participation in 10-week-long visual art groups may result in psychological changes and may alter the functional interplay of the DMN.

The brain's default mode network (DMN) is the network of regions of the brain which remain active even when an individual is at rest. It's important because it is the DMN network which is engaged when an individual is engaged in internal tasks involving making pictures e.g. daydreaming, imagining the future and retrieving memories.

It tends not to work when we are focused on the achievement of tasks and executing actions.

Distinct brain areas of a certain resting state network, the default mode network (DMN), are thought to be associated with cognitive processes such as introspection, self-monitoring, prospection, episodic and autobiographic memory, and comprehension of the emotional states and intentions of others [7], [8], [9].

My reading of this is that, in essence, they were testing whether stimulation of the DMN through active and practical development of visual art (eg drawing and painting) might 'fire up' the DMN network in the brain which in turn might help older people to:

• be more self-aware of their personal condition
• help them retain memories better
• better understand the motives and actions of others

In other words, these are all the aspects which can deteriorate when mental well-being deteriorates as people become all older.

Petition to UK MEPs: Stop the EU ban of cadmium in artist's paints

Today I became aware that there is  petition on 38 Degrees - "Stop the EU ban of cadmium in artist's paints." However to date it doesn't have a lot of signatures!

The 38 Degrees website and the petition about Cadmium in Artists Paints

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) may have changed its mind about the proposed ban - see yesterday's blog post - A Rethink: about proposed ban on Cadmium in artists' paints - and artists' professional practices.

However it is consulting until 8th February 2015 on its new position - and those seeking a ban may well present more evidence and change their mind yet again.

If you are at all concerned about even the possibility of a ban, a "belt and braces" approach would suggest signing this petition is a good idea.

I've just signed the petition and decided to publicise it so you can decide whether you want to add your name too.  Click the link at the top if you want to read more about why the petition was put together.

If you want to share the share the petition with others, either share this post or these links:

• Share on Facebook

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A Rethink: about proposed ban on Cadmium in artists' paints - and artists' professional practices

Back in June, I posted Will Cadmium be banned in artists' paints in Europe? about the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) proposal for legislation to ban artists paints containing cadmium pigments throughout the EU.

Today I received an email from Dr Howard Oakley, who updated me on what has happened since. Dr Oakley put some considerable effort into protesting the proposed ban - and submitted a 22 page response!

He told me that the ECHA has changed its mind in the light of the evidence submitted as a result of the consultation on the proposed ban on cadmium in artists paints.

the proposed restriction is not the most appropriate EU wide measure to address the identified risks in terms of the proportionality of its socio-economic benefits to its socio-economic costs."

It's very interesting from a number of perspectives and, as well as the ECHA response, it also touches on:

• Health & Safety: artists' awareness of the toxicity of cadmium and associated studio practice
• Labelling practices: artists' awareness of whether or not they were assuming paint contained cadmium if it used the word Cadmium on the label - when it did not
• Art Education: the role of art schools in promoting best practice in use of paint containing toxic pigments
• Representation of Artists: the role of art societies in representing artists who use specific types of paint

Plus I ask you your views on a few questions........

Proposed Cadmium Ban: The response from the  European Chemicals Agency

This is the summary of the new position

RAC adopted its opinion, and SEAC agreed on a draft opinion, on cadmium and its compounds in artists’ paints, not supporting the proposal from Sweden to restrict the placing on the market and use of cadmium and its compounds in artists' paints covered by TARIC codes 3213 and 3212. The reason for the proposed action by Sweden was a concern for for human health via the environment . During use and cleaning procedures cadmium based artists’ paints are released to the waste water. When the resulting sewage sludge is applied as fertiliser in the agriculture, the cadmium compounds used in artists’ paints will eventually end up in foodstuffs.
RAC found the risks to be negligible. The 60-day public consultation on the SEAC draft opinion will be launched in December 2014. SEAC plans to adopt its final opinion by March 2015.   Annex to RAC and SEAC news alert December 2014 (121.4k)

REPORT:  This is the report of the ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment (adopted 26 november 2014)

OPINION: This is the

•  Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) Opinion on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions on Cadmium and its compounds in Artist’s Paints (483.5k) (Draft 26 November 2014).
• Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) Opinion on an Annex XV dossier proposing restrictions on Cadmium and its compounds in Artist’s Paints Draft (167.5k)

Cadmium selenide
- used for red artist's paint

Significant doubts were cast on the estimates of the impact of cadmium in artists' paints.

The Committee also noted the impact assessments of artists.

I have to say that I really did think that the strength of opinion and the extent to which people were prepared to submit comments indicated to me that there was a good chance that the proposed ban would not be agreed.

Alternatives to Cd-containing artists’ paints are available. However, during public consultation it has been brought up by industry and by a large number of comments (341out of 666) by artists using the paints that alternatives to artists’ paints containing Cd donot provide the same technical specifications as Cd pigments e.g. regarding lightfastness, opacity and tinting strength (at least more paint has to be put on the canvas to achieve similar results). These parameters are mainly associated with aesthetic aspects of the paintings and therefore cannot be monetized easily. In addition to the familiar concept of technical feasibility of alternatives, the aesthetic aspects of the paints needs to be fully taken into account due to their role in painting/production of art. There is a strong assertion from public consultation that the alternatives are not of equal value.

We'll just have to wait and see now whether the revised position statement is agreed.

More consultation

Its proposals not to proceed with the ban are also now out for consultation.

Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the draft opinion by 8 February 2015.

Health & Safety Implications for Artists

Professional practices - and health and safety