A Blind Artist.

[fraser_paice]

I think, on those occasions that I'm feeling like I can't paint because I don't have the right equipment, or I'm tired, or the light isn't right, or whatever excuse I can come up with... In future I'll have a look at this.

http://distractify.com/pinar/seeing-...th-your-hands/

[D Akey]

Those are cool pics. Love the intense colors. Something about being blind and painting that has me scratching my head. These people can't be totally blind. I can understand 'legally blind' because they have some modicum of ability to see something, however vague.

But anyway, it's very cool to overcome a handicap and do some remarkable things that match or exceed the average person with all their faculties cooking along. I think there's got to be an element of defiance, a "rage against the darkening of the light", to quote Dylan Thomas. He wrote this to his father who was passing away. I think there's a bit of that resistance to fading away captured here and in all those cases where people have senses, and life itself, taken away.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Dylan Thomas — Dylan Thomas Page -- http://www.bigeye.com/donotgo.htm

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

[Saphire]

Those are cool pics. Love the intense colors. Something about being blind and painting that has me scratching my head. These people can't be totally blind. I can understand 'legally blind' because they have some modicum of ability to see something, however vague.

D Akey, you are right, I am registered blind although I have my peripheral vision still intact, it isnt easy to do everyday tasks because you rely on your brain to unscramble what you do see and put them in the correct order. I am one off the lucky ones I only have my central vision gone. It can be difficult at times especially in strange places because I feel vulnerable and i have to use my white stick, in familiar surrounding a stranger would think I had normal vision.

When I am painting on my ipad, I can blow the screen up to 800%, animal fur is the easiest for me to do, its one simple stroke at a time. I am under no pressure and its so relaxing.

I still do my Archery as a sport in the blind section but not in my category (B1) I shoot the next section down (B2) only because those in the B1 section has to wear total blackouts, I am not ready to cut out all light. Personally I think it wrong to have totaly blacked out eye shields, why they cant wear opaque which let the light in but nothing else, i dont know. They say even those who have severe blndness have some perseption of light. I feel privileged to be able to still do what I love the most, Archery and painting.

Sorry for the little rant
Christine

[D Akey]

D Akey, you are right, I am registered blind although I have my peripheral vision still intact, it isnt easy to do everyday tasks because you rely on your brain to unscramble what you do see and put them in the correct order. I am one off the lucky ones I only have my central vision gone. It can be difficult at times especially in strange places because I feel vulnerable and i have to use my white stick, in familiar surrounding a stranger would think I had normal vision.

When I am painting on my ipad, I can blow the screen up to 800%, animal fur is the easiest for me to do, its one simple stroke at a time. I am under no pressure and its so relaxing.

I still do my Archery as a sport in the blind section but not in my category (B1) I shoot the next section down (B2) only because those in the B1 section has to wear total blackouts, I am not ready to cut out all light. Personally I think it wrong to have totaly blacked out eye shields, why they cant wear opaque which let the light in but nothing else, i dont know. They say even those who have severe blndness have some perseption of light. I feel privileged to be able to still do what I love the most, Archery and painting.

Sorry for the little rant
Christine

How interesting. I knew you shared about your vision issues in the past but not in detail like this. I'm all the more impressed. Archery as well. Wow. Interesting that there would be categories for blocking out the vision entirely. Is that something that was instituted after Shogun came out with all the attention that master archer stuff garnered, letting the bow and arrow do the aiming and all that Zen and the Art of Archery stuff? I still remember that being one of those superhuman things about martial arts from the East. I mean, it sounds good on rice paper (and film), but to actually do it. Mind blowing. And so you're saying you have to wear total black out goggles as opposed to translucent? I wonder if that's all about trying to still imitate the masters of the East, or if it's a way to level the playing field as it were for all blind archers, including those with no vision at all being able to still compete -- a way to narrow the category to a specific type of contest yet still have enough eligible contestants.

Fascinating. Not a rant per say, more an insight into a world many are not aware of, including myself. So thanks. And I still think your artwork is phenomenal by any standards.

[Saphire]

D Akey.

You are correct in saying it is to level the playing field. For myself i decided to not shoot in the category that has to wear a blindfold, it makes me feel like a fraud they have no choice with the severity of their blindness. I dont shoot with any sighting aids other then a pointer that touches the back of my hand at full draw, I cant see the target so rely on my husband to set up the tripod and line up the pointer towards the target, all adjustment from then on is up to myself. The spotters are not allowed to touch the equipment again until breaktimes accept to call out where the arrow has landed in the target.

The British Blind Sport have this year managed to get a category in the world championship in Germany. I could have put my name forward and would have been accepted if only I would travel. I am terrified in the car as a passenger because I am not the one in control anymore. Traveling is the only drawback for me, I have tried to get it under control but sometimes even on a short journey I will totally panic and want to get out and walk and thats not good for my husband.

This Gentleman is using the type of tripod and setup I use


This next one is of myself with my husband just out of view a metre behind me.


Sorry my grammer is atrocious.

[Enug]

That takes me back Christine - I used to shoot competitively when in my 30's.

[vandra]

It's fantastic that you're still enjoying your sport as well as still enjoying painting Saphire. I love the most recent one you did of the leopard. I only have peripheral vision in my left eye but am fortunate that my right eye is still OK.

[D Akey]

All this is very fascinating, and thanks for the pics. It really gives me an idea of what it's like. Also it looks like you're having a great time. Very focused. I'm also intrigued by how much gadgetry is involved. When I think of bow and arrow I think of primitive hunting, but I know that's all a thing of the past. I can't quite imagine going hunting having to stock an animal quietly, setting up a tripod, adjusting the counterbalance, and so on. The details of all of this where so much is added onto the bow Is something of a counterbalance to the reduction of vision in this case. It's all about personal discipline and testing your limits. Fantastic.

This is definitely a world unto itself. Certainly very modern. Don't we live in an extraordinary time with all of the technology and diverse activities we have available to us.

Go ladies go!

[Saphire]

Enug (June)

Its a shame you never kept it up, its a brilliant sport either at club level or competitive level. It wasn't very long before I went competitive, it was something I needed to do and did it well. I was at my peak in 2005 and was 5th in the Uk, it was the following year I started with serious panic attacks while traveling which spoilt my shooting, I just couldn't concentrate worrying about the journey home. I kept going downhill after that, it was only picking up my bow after a winter break and going outdoors again that I found out that I could no longer see the target, it had been creeping up on me over a number of years. At the time I was devastated I couldn't drive anymore, painting went out the window unless my nose was touching the canvas and my Archery. One of the coaches persuaded me to join the British Blind Sport, my interest was back but unfortunately no Ladies in competition within my category so I push myself to beat my own scores..

My painting came back not long after when I was bought my first Ipad and I downloaded ArtRage, now there is never going back. I am still terrified of travelling which I cant control and definitely no nighttime journeys. But other then travelling life is back to what it used to be but done in a different way.

I also play poole and like beating the men, lol!, even playing darts can be fun if I am pointed in the right direction I still remember where all the numbers are and the size of the board, I just cant get those pesky doubles on the outside. I am still very competitive I wont be told, you cant do that you are blind.

Vandra,

I only have peripheral in my right eye, what was my aiming eye, and the complete opposite in my left eye. There are lots of experiments going on, I know there will be help in the future but probably not in my lifetime.

D Akey,

It can be difficult trying to explain how things work without pictures, glad you like them.

This thread is more of a life story about me then talking about the work the visually impaired painter has done and how he does his amazing work.

Christine

[Enug]

Enug (June)

Its a shame you never kept it up,

It was at about the time that I was at my peak in archery that we moved to a small property in the country and I started breeding Angora goats. I wasn't able to get to town for shooting practice but we set up a target on our property and I practiced there but wasn't as dedicated as I had been previously and it showed in my accuracy. As I had been a successful competitor, coming second in the National Championships, held various records and being invited to try out for the Aus. Olympic team, I couldn't accept being a weekend shooter so I quit 'cold turkey'.

Here's a pic of me way back then. This was a newspaper photo taken when I had set a new record. I am naturally left-handed but my dominant eye dictated that I should shoot right-handed. I was using a Yamaha take down bow. They would be a lot different now - and kevlar strings were the thing in those days.