Other artist with brain injuries

[H.M.Craig]

When I first got my injury, I wondered how other artists were impacted by it. I couldn't be the only one. I found this article which helped me understand that there are many of us... including people whose injury woke their artistic side.

 

http://weburbanist.com/2009/07/12/stroke-of-genius-abilities-borne-...

"From the engineer on disability who became a sought-after digital artist after a stroke to a woman whose dementia spurred remarkable creative output, these 10 artists were all transformed by neurological trauma or disorders."

 

Some of the artists-

Ken Walters:

Alison Silva:

http://alisonsilva.com/wordpress/

Jim Chambliss:

http://sparksofcreativity.blogspot.com/2008/08/biography-of-jim-cha...

 

 

 

 

[Brenda Bell]

Thank you for sharing!

[Brenda Bell]

Heather rooney said:

this is amazing! I got my tbi on march sixth of this year... prior to my injury I was a strategist and a ceo of a consulting firm... left brain all the way! I could barely draw a stick figure! don't get me wrong I was very creative in my strategy and my writing... but I always said I am in no way an artist! now after my injury I love to paint... big abstract canvas with oils and texter... I'm still getting used to the idea that I can paint, as people tell me that I should consider doing this for a living! I must say that my right brain is so happy to be painting... I'm grateful to know that I am alone.

[Brenda Bell]

I use to draw stick figure myself and I first picked up a paint brush in a brain rehab, it was great! It is still wonderful to be able to create and know that it's your own creation.

Brenda Bell said:

Heather rooney said:

this is amazing! I got my tbi on march sixth of this year... prior to my injury I was a strategist and a ceo of a consulting firm... left brain all the way! I could barely draw a stick figure! don't get me wrong I was very creative in my strategy and my writing... but I always said I am in no way an artist! now after my injury I love to paint... big abstract canvas with oils and texter... I'm still getting used to the idea that I can paint, as people tell me that I should consider doing this for a living! I must say that my right brain is so happy to be painting... I'm grateful to know that I am alone.

[H.M.Craig]

I think it's amazing that people find out about talents that they otherwise would not have discovered.

Art is also very therapeutic. At a time when I constantly had headaches, the 15 minutes that I could paint proved to be headache free.  AND.. I could actually do something, accomplish something. That was a big deal to me at a time when figuring out how to do laundry was like figuring out Quantum Mechanics.

 

Heather, do you have any of your work online? I would love to see it!

Also.. have you shown your work at all?

Heather rooney said:

this is amazing! I got my tbi on march sixth of this year... prior to my injury I was a strategist and a ceo of a consulting firm... left brain all the way! I could barely draw a stick figure! don't get me wrong I was very creative in my strategy and my writing... but I always said I am in no way an artist! now after my injury I love to paint... big abstract canvas with oils and texter... I'm still getting used to the idea that I can paint, as people tell me that I should consider doing this for a living! I must say that my right brain is so happy to be painting... I'm grateful to know that I am alone.

[Bernie]

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing. :-)
My TBI was in 1983. I was a floral and folk artist. I lost my ability to paint. And could only paint muddy splotches. After many years I am able to create again. Thank goodness you posted this story. It is so encouraging and wonderful to read!

Here is one of my paintings...

[H.M.Craig]

Bernie, that is a gorgeous painting. I love how you play with color and pattern!

 

Have you been able to connect with other artists with brain injuries in real life?

 

 

[H.M.Craig]

Heather!

So good to see your work!

I love that you  are working large... and with a LOT of feeling!

 

Are you looking for advice on where to show your work?

Try local brain injury/disability groups, hospitals, art associations, festivals, libraries, cafes... There are a lot of possibilities depending on where you live and what's available to you.

 

The brain injury association of Washington has had an art show for the past three years. They're very good.

The brain injury association of Minnesota is also very good at showing art.

 

Also... online portfolio places specific to disability:

http://igodap.org/

http://www.vsarts.org/

(have you uploaded your paintings to your profile here at tbisurvivors??)

 

Some online portfolio places:

http://www.saatchionline.com/

fineartamerica.com

 

:)