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What I Learned Painting Without My Eyes

What I learned painting without my eyes...and I learned a lot!I was so inspired by a video about Sargy Mann, who is an amazing painter who happens to be blind.   His paintings are stunning.  Watching him create captivated me. I could not stop thinking about it.  So I decided to try to paint without my eyes.  And did I ever learn a few things…

Watch Painting without my Eyes on YouTube.

Here’s what I learned…

What I learned painting without my eyes...and I learned a lot!Where you place you supplies is critical….I thought I had it all organized so I could easily put my brush in paint but NO.

 

 

What I learned painting without my eyes...and I learned a lot!I thought I would be able to feel when the brush hit the paint…but NO.

 

 

What I learned painting without my eyes...and I learned a lot!I thought I was getting color on the entire piece evenly but NO (in fact it seems I completely ignored one whole corner of it).

I thought I’d be able to remember where colors had been placed but NO.

 

After trying painting without my eyes, I watched the video about Sargy Mann again with a new appreciation.  I couldn’t keep track of what color went where in just the few minutes I was playing, let alone an entire composition filled with so many precise details.

Watch Blind Painter Sargy Mann on YouTube.

In the end, I did not create fine art.  I played.   I let go and got lost in the experience.  As a bonus,  I have a great start to an art journal page.

Supplies Used

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  • Nancy Curry January 11, 2015, 12:39 pm

    I loved this. Nothing more to say.

  • Kathy Gledsdale January 11, 2015, 12:48 pm

    How very freeing, painting without pressure.

  • Grace Mendez January 11, 2015, 1:34 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing the video about Sargy Mann. It is so inspiring.

  • Raine January 11, 2015, 1:34 pm

    That was great, Carolyn! Good for you for taking on that challenge. I have a major fear of going blind. I have some vision issues that remind me constantly to not take my sight for granted.

  • Glenda L January 11, 2015, 4:12 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing that video and your experience. Truly an inspirational painter.

  • Megan January 11, 2015, 4:19 pm

    Wow. Thank you for sharing the videos with us–very inspiring!

  • Win Dinn January 11, 2015, 5:31 pm

    Wow – great test run, and kudos to you for trying that at all!

  • peg hewitt January 11, 2015, 6:52 pm

    Thank you for introducing me to this remarkable artist. You have given me much to think about.

  • Marit January 12, 2015, 5:10 am

    I LOVE experiments like this… you learn so much (about your art and yourself!) I never painted blind but I did some awesome ‘blind drawings’… ever heard of that? You should try it! (See this blogpost http://www.maritspaperworld.com/blog/?p=8099

  • Corrine January 12, 2015, 12:49 pm

    Pretty amazing video about Sargy Mann, that’s true trusting the brush and your inner vision to “see” what you want to be seen. xox

  • Jean Marmo January 12, 2015, 4:22 pm

    I have enough trouble painting with my eyes open! Not sure how I would fare with them shut! Might have to try this!

  • Elizabeth Kaplan January 12, 2015, 5:48 pm

    I love how this came out! We all forget how to paint like a 6-year old. I would have to wear gloves, though. My mother ruined me.

  • Tricia February 2, 2015, 9:30 pm

    My son and I really enjoyed watching the Sargy Mann video, so inspiring! I found it interesting how he marked his canvas. Thanks for sharing it and your own experience as well.