Being resourceful
My career as an orthopaedic surgeon was cut short by a series of health issues, including prostate cancer, and a brachial plexopathy that limited the use of my right hand. Despite these challenges, I continue to find ways to remain productive.
One of my passions outside of medicine is art. Due to physical deficits, I paint on unmounted canvases, using a drafting bridge to support my arm and often wear a hand brace to hold and stabilize the brush. I also use my left, non-dominant hand to paint and have developed a unique style that I call "hard-edge expressionism." Under the pseudonym "Warren Blades," my artwork has received recognition and even helped some people through difficult times. My work can be seen on my website: www.wblades.com.
Another passion of mine is motorcycles, which I rediscovered in midlife. I participated in many track days and eventually became a track instructor with Reg Pridmore's school, ClassRides. Helping riders to become safer on the track and the street and working with motor officers in honing their skills at speed has been a rewarding experience. Despite physical challenges, I even entered a sanctioned road race at the age of 63, placing second in my class.
Behind the story
After more than 30 years of maintaining a busy and successful career, I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, underwent treatment, and ultimately had to discontinue my clinical orthopaedic practice due to a nerve condition affecting my right hand. I subsequently underwent a right shoulder replacement and suspension arthroplastic procedures on both thumbs.
Art
Painting has always been one of my passions. My father was a sign painter and, having grown up surrounded by paint brushes and the smell of turpentine, I had a natural attraction to the world of art. After stepping away from clinical practice, I returned to painting. My art is done under the name, “W Blades”. Due to the physical challenges regarding my right hand, I learned to compensate by using unmounted canvases and a hand brace. The other work-around is to use my non-dominant hand. I’m slowly learning to be more accurate with the left hand and, as strange as it sounds, if I imagine initiating movements with my right hand, a “mirror imaging” phenomenon seems to emerge and helps me to control the left hand as though it is dominant.
I have also developed a style I refer to as "hard-edge expressionism”. Hard-edge implies a sharp border between each of the shapes and values, rather than a smooth, blended transition. It may appear somewhat crude and unfinished when viewed close-up, but takes on a more recognizable form when seen from a distance. I think of expressionism as a style focusing on one or perhaps a few themes within the work. Most of my paintings are of man made objects and people, with an emphasis on motorsports, particularly motorcycles.
Why W Blades?
Early in my career, painting and creating contemporary art pieces provided a nice outlet and enabled me to enhance our home with “original” pieces that didn’t require taking out a second mortgage. We lived in an area where signatures on paintings were well-scrutinized. Having observed this, I decided it would be best to create an alias for my signature on the paintings and the “artist” became known as “Warren Blades”. Over the years it turned into W Blades and remains my trademark art pseudonym to this day.
Motorcycles
Motorcycles were a part of my life growing up in a small rural Midwestern town where riding minibikes with the neighborhood kids was the norm. However, as my medical career began, my passion for two-wheeled transportation was put on hold. It wasn't until later in life that I re-entered the world of motorcycles, accumulating several sport bikes and becoming involved with a group of like-minded enthusiasts at The Rock Store, a local motorsports venue on Mulholland Highway.
Working as a track instructor and participating in track days around the United States and Europe has helped me to improve and sharpen my skills. The learning never stops. Entering a sanctioned road race in my early 60s was an intense pursuit, requiring months of studying the rules book. In prepping my bike for racing, I had to research, practice and perfect safety wiring techniques. Thanks to my orthopaedic background, it all made sense and the results were impeccable. In the world of motorcycle racing, “perfection is preferred; excellence will be tolerated”.
With perseverance, I passed the race school and competed in the Sound of Singles class on a KTM 690 Duke. In my first race, I had the surreal experience of lining up with four-time AMA Superbike champion Josh Hayes and finished second in my class. My experience there was featured in a Cycle World story by Nick Ienatsch with an audio interview. Although I raced twice more at Laguna Seca, I am now content instructing and participating in track days with friends.
