Being an artist has been one of the most meaningful moments of my lifetime. Despite having a disability, the physical challenges that I face such as loss of balance, vision, and use of my arms and hands presents a major barrier in making art and participating in the industry. So I was inclined to adapt my own personal journey by brainstorming a wide range of solutions and creative approaches that enable me to dive into the field of visual arts. One solution I made involves creating artwork through a software called ProCreate, which is equally accessible for artists with low vision and is designed for users of all artistic abilities, such as beginners and professionals. I use my nose to create digital art on my iPad which I found beneficial because I can’t hold paintbrushes or markers or any kind of tools with my fingers that don’t work well. These limitations are due to a neurological disorder called Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency (RTD) which causes a progression in motor neuron functions over time. Another solution I made was to paint with my mouth while working with canvas as an alternative to hand use. This allows me to stick to my journey without stopping and it gives me tons of options for composition with a fair level of access to the physical environment, no matter how my disabilities affect me.
Art is a fun subject because it gives me many ways to express ideas, feelings, and themes that represent the real world. When I was growing up, I learned to draw different things based on what I’ve seen around me and share the drawings with friends, family, and teachers who helped me be successful. My visual differences are defined as something that requires some modification of my ability to visualize certain objects that might be even difficult to see in dark spaces or from far away. For example, it is kind of hard for me to tell the difference between colors that I’ve been able to overcome with my vision loss. When I see the color of purple it isn’t the same as blue so I sometimes struggle to distinguish between them and figure out the appropriate ones that build onto my work. However, I can still see many colors as well as those who don’t have vision impairment and identify the scale between light and darkness. Being a blind artist means I have an inherently unique perception of the visual world to bring about creativity. In addition to these limitations, muscle weakness is another factor in that requires some assistive technology to keep me active in the art industry. Using my mouth to hold paintbrushes, rather than my hands provides me the freedom and independence to just enjoy the process and not focus on my problems.
As an artist and advocate for accessibility, I generally believe in inclusion of individuals from all ability levels. Much of my artwork can be used to change public views of individual differences by increasing awareness and representation of disability in the arts. One of the pieces that I have made would display people in wheelchairs joining the protest against injustice and discrimination that take place in the streets of New York City. I know a lot of disabled artists from all over the country that make a big difference and spread popularity in recent years. I am currently a member of a support group for artists with disabilities sponsored by the Open Circle Theatre, a theatrical company founded by an actress in a wheelchair named Suzanne Richards. I have been active in the group since summer of 2022 when I joined the art market at the Open Circle Festival and sold a dozen pieces off the table. I attend virtual meetings via zoom at least several times each year and it helped me connect with other artists and share stories about my experience with art. For those who are like me, I highly recommend joining this network and following their posts on social media.
Additionally, I have a RedBubble shop that sells a wide variety of products with my artwork printed on them, which is referred to as print on demand. Feel free to check it out at https://www.redbubble.com/people/BrookevilleAlex/explore?asc=u and reach out if you have any questions or feedback from what you have learned.
No comments:
Post a Comment