Artists with Disabilities

When the Drive to Create Beats Physical Limitations

I often wonder at the drive some of us have to create. For most of us, creating is no problem. If we want to, we do so without any other thought about how we’re physically going to do it. But what about artists with disabilities? What happens when a blind person wants to paint, draw, or sculpt? What about an individual born without arms who wants to do the same? Or a person with severe cerebral palsy? That drive to create just doesn’t go away because you have what some might consider insurmountable limitations.

Our world has been blessed with stellar musicians who are blind. Stevie Wonder, Diane Schuur, and Ray Charles are among the first to come to mind. There’s also this young man who popped up on my Facebook feed recently. Patrick Hughes was born without eyes in addition to a crippling disability. He has let neither one slow him down in his love for music nor in his collegiate goals. Check Patrick’s story out here.

Music is one thing. With determination, one can learn where the keys are or where the notes are on a stringed instrument, for example. And I’m not trying to diminish their accomplishments, but what of those that can’t see, but want to paint? I’m not talking about just slapping paint on a canvas, haphazardly going through the motions. I’m talking about incredible works of art, portraits that look just like the people they’re supposed to represent, animals, landscapes, etc. Impossible? John Bramblitt would argue the case. At 30 years old, complications from epilepsy left him irreversibly blind. He taught himself how to paint by touch. Check his story out here.

Or Paul Smith, an artist with severe cerebral palsy. His condition prevents him from even holding a brush in his hand, much less use it to paint. A disability that perhaps no one in their right mind would fault him for if he didn’t bother to try. His desire to create was so strong that he found a way despite the odds. By using an old school typewriter, Paul creates impressive “paintings,” for lack of a better word. Portraits, landscapes, animal portraits…you name it, he can do it. Here’s Paul’s story.

And there are artists who pop up now and again who were born without arms. 23 year old Polish artist, Mariusz Kedzierski is one of those people. His hyper-realistic drawings are pretty spectacular. He’s created over 700 drawings in the last 7 years, taking over 15,000 hours to complete them. He can be found in different countries, drawing in public places to demonstrate that “impossible” doesn’t exist. You can view his inspiring story here.

Most people in their place would say, “I can’t. I’m disabled…” These people are all willing to let their disabilities define their limits and in turn, who they are. Some never even consider pushing the boundaries. They are the disability. So what makes the individuals above, these artists with disabilities different? What makes one person willing to accept the boundaries in their minds, or worse yet, become a defeatist, allowing the disability to dictate their life path while these others a shining example of what human beings are capable of if we put our minds to it? Are societal expectations to blame? Do we view the disabled and expect less of them because of their disability and in turn does that rub off on the individual? I applaud the parents of children with disabilities who raise them no differently than any other child, to know that the disability exists only if they let it, that the limitations exist only in the mind, and that they can achieve and be whatever they want to be. Can you imagine if people like Stephen Hawking or Helen Keller let their disabilities define them? Or if the hearing-impaired Ludwig van Beethoven let his define him?

I like how Patrick Hughes put it when asked how he’d describe his disability. “Not disabled,” he said. “More able.” Or John Bramblitt who stated in another video that once he came out of the very dark depression following his loss of vision, he realized that he was entirely free to try his hand at painting. I could understand immediately. If he sucked at it, neither he nor anyone else would fault him. Instead, he excelled. By casting off the imagined limitations, he found purpose and passion.

I have to admit that while I watched the videos of each of these artists with disabilities, I was brought to tears more than once. I was moved and inspired by their stories, of course. But, I was also humbled and a bit ashamed at how much I take for granted, at the silly and lame excuses I use to justify not working on my own art more often than I care to admit. And I realize how much more I can put into my work and how much farther along I’d be if I’d only gone at it with half as much passion and drive. I don’t want to take what I have for granted anymore. I have my vision. I have full use of all of my limbs. I need to work now with focus and discipline. No more excuses!