Writers are told to write about what they know. That rule doesn't apply to us visual types, but sometimes what you know is what there is. Over the years my feet have made countless appearances in sketchbooks and journals---my feet in doctors' waiting rooms, my feet on the beach, my feet on the bed, my feet nude, my feet shod. Sketching your own feet is an activity similar to a cat chasing its tail, only moderately more decorous. You can do it discreetly, you can do it for free, you can do it without thinking. You have a moment, you have your sketchbook and a pencil, you're bored--- and there they are, those trusty appendages.
Today I prepare to have my feet unveiled after last week's surgery to correct overzealous metatarsals (for this condition, thanks are due to my forbears and, I suspect, to years of running) and I wonder, whose feet ARE these? Will I recognize these tootsies, with their newly slim silhouettes, their scars, their invisibly ( I hope) embedded screws? You know, I'd grown accustomed to their look.
Ooh,I hope it didn't hurt - I'm thinking of doing my footsies and oh I hope it doesn't hurt. And I like to draw my thumb. I have a thing about thumbs. I think thumbs have character. Maybe someday I'll have a coffee table book of famous people thumb drawings. Strange huh? Does this mean you'll be able to wear all those Sex in The City shoes I still can't pronounce?
Posted by: janey | May 10, 2005 at 06:42 PM
Hello Laura, I rather think that your shoes are the same as the one that I was given when I broke my foot last May. I asked if I could have one for the other foot, and they wouldn't let me. :-( I'd have been prepared to pay for it. Meant that once I could actually bear weight on the foot a little that I walked lop sided as none of my shoes had exactly the same height.
Hope the tootsies are happy now, let's have a drawing of the improved feet! ;-)
Posted by: Maggie Wallace | April 30, 2005 at 09:07 AM
your text entry is as nice as your sketch. i hope you're not in any pain and that everything went ok. =)
Posted by: ian | April 30, 2005 at 07:54 AM
An orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in foot problems (as opposed to a podiatrist) did the job and, man, is he good. I'm really happy with the results and appreciate all the kind thoughts and comments from all quarters.
Posted by: LaureAnne | April 30, 2005 at 07:45 AM
Just joking above- I hope your feet feel better.
Posted by: Gotham Image | April 29, 2005 at 09:59 PM
Podiatry is the new pornography.
Posted by: Gotham Image | April 29, 2005 at 09:51 PM