The Aches & Pains of a printmaker
- gilfaloartdesign
- Nov 19
- 2 min read
I’ve always loved the meditative side of carving, the smell of fresh ink (some people would call me an Ink Snipher), or the thrill of that first pull through the press. Between patience and force, precision and mess, a print is created.
I’ve never really told my story, the actual physical cost that comes with this work that I do.
About a year ago I began to notice a nagging ache in my shoulder after long studio days. I ignored it, chalked it up to fatigue. Next came the sharper pains, the weakness, and the realization that even simple movements were slipping out of reach. So, after long talks with friends and family, I went to see a doctor…. The diagnosis: a torn rotator cuff.
Hearing those words hit me hard, I’ve not had a surgery since 2014 (spinal fusion). I don’t do well when I break my routines, a quality which I need to work on personally.
Printmaking is not just my everyday job, it’s my daily rhythm, my joy, something that really drives me. Physical therapy sessions will soon be replacing studio hours. I had to face a truth I’ve been avoiding…. I can’t keep creating unless I care for the body that carries me through the process.
Recovery has been humbling and slow (6 days into a 4-6 month recovery). Yet, it’s teaching me patience, gratitude, and the value of stepping back before stepping in too deep. I’m learning that self-care is as much a part of my printmaking as ink, paper, and tools are.
I’d love to hear your story. Have you ever faced an injury that changed your daily rhythm? How did you adapt? Share your story in the story below.
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