krogrimm-art

[krogrimm-art]

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions in your writing, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

This is NOT a medical resource!!! And never tell a real person you think they're using a cane wrong!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height can make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(some people elect to use a cane wrong for their personal situation despite this, everyone is different!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane and the bad leg and follow with the good leg!

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

[krogrimm-art]

Hey everyone I have commissions open!!

Commission details:

Sketch (no color)-

•Bust: $5

•Half: $7

•3/4: $9

•Full: $12

Lined (no color)-

•Bust: $8

•Half: $10

•3/4: $12

•Full: $15

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Added Color:

•Flat color: +$2

•Cell shaded: +$4

•Full gradient shading: +$6

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Additional:

Extra Character- +$2 for every character

Background- Simple +$1, Complex +$3

Full Character Sheet- +$5

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Will Draw: pretty much anything just ask, furry, nsfw, and gore welcomed just double check with me before hand!

Will Not Draw: Heavily detailed mechs/robots

[krogrimm-art]

fabric studies

__________________________________ •ArtStation •OnlineShop •Instagram •deviantart •BUYMECOFFEE! COMMISSION INFO   _______________________________________________

[krogrimm-art]

Been a while, but anyway here's Flick from ACNH

[krogrimm-art]

Heyo, this is Kro back in action.

It's been like a year since I last posted any kind of art on this account so heres a small dump of art that I have done over the past 6 or so months. Art block has been a bitch but I've been trying to get back into it around work and cosplay.

[krogrimm-art]

Since Tungle dot Hell is being like That™

Okay so, since our dear hell sight is about to purge everyone on the 17th and seriously limit everyone else…

Here is my Instagram:

krogrimm

My TikTok:

also krogrimm

My Twitter:

Everything is Krogrimm

This is all in the case that I’m flagged or removed for some reason.

[krogrimm-art]

The eternal struggle of an artist.

[krogrimm-art]

By reblogging this post you confirm that you are not Anish Kapoor, you are in no way affiliated to Anish Kapoor, you are not reblogging this post on behalf of Anish Kapoor or an associate of Anish Kapoor. To the best of your knowledge, information and belief this post will not make its way into the hands of Anish Kapoor.

[krogrimm-art]

Hey guys! Im going to open up sketchbook commissions in order to save up some extra money, partially so that I can go to cosmotology school and move out, but also for anything else I may need it for. Rates: •Listed in pictures above Will Draw: •OCs •Ships •AUs •Fursonas •Basically anything honestly Won't Draw: •NSFW (for now) •Extreme gore (for now) •Paedophilia •Anything I don't feel comfortable drawing If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

[krogrimm-art]

artist: makes an oc

someone: OMG THIS LOOKS LIKE (real/popular person/someone elses oc)

artist:

[krogrimm-art]

Some quick animation smear guides I put together for a friend! not sure if it works as a tutorial without my in person commentary, also more intended as a guide to show examples of basic/common smear types :O

…might make a tutorial on how to use smears another time…

[krogrimm-art]

I got a request to do a tutorial on how to create galaxies! Well, here you go!! Painting galaxies is so much fun, and can be really calming. So have fun!! 

If you have any questions or if I made a mistake, feel free to message me!

Do not remove caption

[krogrimm-art]

“i really liked your post!”

Thanks How About You Reblog It :)

[krogrimm-art]

Everyone: Please dont draw at night, it makes your brain be active and youre not gonna be able to sleep! Plus, you need to rest, you work really hard on art everyday, you deserve a little break!

Me, an idiot:

[krogrimm-art]

_(:з」∠)_

[krogrimm-art]

being an online artist

[krogrimm-art]

Was too fun to make.