Art Without Limits: Living, Making, and Creating with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

There’s a misconception that creativity requires perfect hands, steady joints, or endless energy.

But in truth, art often thrives in the cracks — in the moments when life challenges us to adapt, to slow down, and to find new ways of expressing ourselves.

For me, living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility type) means my body doesn’t always play by the rules.

My joints are overly flexible, my muscles tire easily, and pain is a frequent — if uninvited — companion.

Yet in the world of art and woodworking, I’ve found something that feels like freedom.

Learning to Work With My Body, Not Against It

Woodworking isn’t always kind to a hypermobile body. The repetitive motion of sanding, the strength needed to clamp, lift, or engrave — even the fine detail of painting or gluing — can set off pain or fatigue. But I’ve learned to adapt.

I plan my work in shorter bursts, take breaks when my joints protest, and use tools that make things easier — from ergonomic grips to my trusty xTool laser, which lets me design, engrave, and create without relying on brute strength.

It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing it differently.

There’s an art to pacing yourself, to listening to your body’s signals, and still finding a way to make something beautiful from it all.

Finding Art in the Chaos

Chronic illness changes how you see the world.

For me, it’s added layers — quite literally.

The graffiti textures, the drips, the imperfections — they’re not just a style choice; they’re a reflection of living with a body that refuses to fit a perfect mould.

Every piece I make — whether it’s a graffiti keyring, a layered wood print, or a hand-painted clock — carries a little bit of that defiance.

The message behind The Untamed Workshop has always been Art Without Rules — and that mantra hits differently when your body writes its own rulebook every day.

Representation Matters in Making

The creative and maker communities often celebrate precision, productivity, and perfection.

But there’s a quiet strength in the makers who show up despite pain, fatigue, or mobility challenges — those who craft not just with their hands, but with grit and heart.

I’ve connected with other disabled artists and makers who remind me that accessibility isn’t just about ramps and captions — it’s about inclusion in creativity itself.

It’s about designing studios, schedules, and mindsets that allow us to keep making, even when our bodies demand rest.

A Different Kind of Strength

People sometimes call me “strong” for working through pain, but the truth is, strength doesn’t always look like pushing through.

Sometimes it’s knowing when to stop, when to rest, and when to let creativity flow in a gentler way.

Some days I’m a whirlwind of paint and sawdust.

Other days, I’m sketching ideas from the sofa, laptop balanced on my knees.

Both count. Both are part of the process.

Why I Keep Creating

Art has always been my anchor — a way to turn discomfort into colour, chaos into composition.

Living with Ehlers-Danlos hasn’t taken that away from me; if anything, it’s deepened it.

Through The Untamed Workshop, I’ve learned that being an artist with a disability doesn’t mean making less — it means making honestly.

It means honouring your limits, your resilience, and your story in every brushstroke and burn mark.

And maybe that’s the truest form of Art Without Rules there is.