I have been legally blind since birth. Recently, I have lost all vision in my right eye, and only have limited vision remaining in my left. While pursing my degree in psychology, I became interested in photography and looking at the effects of visual impairment on artistic style. Photography became a way to extend my […] Read More »
Art is the lifelong process of discovering who I am and my place in this universe. My art studies at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee were a wonderful opening up to this revelation. As the progression of RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) has limited my field of vision to 5 degrees central tunnel, all the artistic insights […] Read More »
From my earliest memories I have loved photography. After being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa 16 years ago, I have wanted to capture more and more of the beauty around me before I can no longer “see.” After my children were grown, I developed a more serious interest in learning about photography from family members who […] Read More »
My visual impairment forces me to let go of “staying in the lines.” Perspective and colors may change because of what my eyes see, ultimately making my style looser and more expressive. I have to work in the best possible lighting, which usually means daylight along with extra lamps and magnification for small areas. I […] Read More »
In 1949, I began working in flower shops for on-the-job training to become a floral designer. In 1959, I was diagnosed with macular dystrophy but was able to continue my career for over 50 years. I became interested in painting after retirement when I saw the art work of other visually impaired people and decided […] Read More »
I have always liked art, especially to draw. However, due to my condition, I didn’t think about it until I started taking a watercolor class when I stopped working because my friends encouraged me to pick up a hobby. When I was last in Passionate Focus in 2011, I had been taking the class for […] Read More »
I was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1942. I began serious art study upon graduation from high school. I am a high honors Fine Arts graduate of Sinclair community college in Dayton. My work combines hand-built pottery with fiber coiling, a Native American basketry technique. I believe texture and shape are important parts of my […] Read More »
Painting is as much an exercise in using my brain as it is my paintbrushes. When I think about the various styles of art, my heart wants me to fit into one style, but my vision, practicality and brain dictate alternate styles. Trying to reconcile these and make things work cohesively requires thought. My artistic […] Read More »
In the past few years I have come to the understanding that my blindness can be useful in terms of creating art pieces. The blindness pushes me more towards imagination, causing me to play with images that come into my thoughts, some from daily life, and others from cultural involvement and experiences. The process of […] Read More »
I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in my 30s and later Usher’s Syndrome (hard of hearing discovered at age 5). I continued to be independent, but also in denial. With my vision slowly narrowing and having balance issues, it was necessary for me to slow down, which I found difficult and frightening, especially in […] Read More »