Kathy Paul was a student in my figure drawing class when a sequence of strokes in her optic nerves left her almost completely blind. She has been drawing nearly every day since. In her multi year work of rehabilitation, Paul has produced a series of extraordinary drawings that call attention to the experience of sight itself.
Kathy Paul had a stroke in her right eye in 2019, leaving her with double vision. After several months of adjusting to her new disability, she had a stroke in her left eye, leaving her almost completely blind, with a full loss of color. These are the drawings she made in an attempt to rehabilitate her optic nerves, and learn to see again.
Aberrations; an artist’s journey with blindness
Kathy Paul
Closing Reception: 6-9pm Saturday, March 11
SAL Gallery
5516 4th Ave S
Seattle WA 98108
Entrance at North Gate
Artist’s Statement
This is a story about the restorative power of art.
In 2019 I was taking art classes at the Seattle Artist League, and I had an optic nerve stroke in my right eye. It left me with double vision. I saw double lines outlining everything. I saw aberrations and at times things were blurred. The double lines had a shiny silver look making them stand out. I felt lost, but one of my classes at the League was about how Cezanne shifted space when he drew. It seemed like my lines and his lines matched.
I developed my ability to draw what I saw, and I enjoyed the work. I believed that working like this would help rehabilitate my vision. Then after several months a second stroke struck my left eye. I had almost no vision and total color blindness. The double vision had been replaced by a white world. At times I could barely see the light outline of the model. I needed strong contrast to be able to see. I started out by drawing what little I did see. I felt at times like I was walking off a cliff when I attempted to draw what I could not see. I would draw the curve of an object, then a line near it, and go around the room drawing lines and shapes that I saw. As the months went by and the optic nerves healed I began to see more and more. Now I am left with what is called popcorn vision. With my right eye I see white dots everywhere. My left eye has a lot of blind spots.
Each day is different visually. I never know how well I will be able to see.
Color is coming back a little. At first it was floating green patches above plants, and tiny little rainbows. I can only see the brightest primary and secondary colors. I am beginning to very slowly use a bit of color in my work. However, drawing remains my first love. I hope you enjoy my artwork as much as I enjoy creating it. It has given me back my life.
An atelier is a snobby word for an artist’s workshop space. The word studio is from the Italian: studio, and from Latin: studium, from studere, meaning to study or zeal. The word atelier is French for workshop, especially the workroom or studio of a sculptor or painter, 1840, from French atelier, going back to the Old French astelier which was a carpenter’s workshop, woodpile …
I usually get one or two very nice responses from V. Notes readers, but after the last couple of posts I’ve been receiving quite a few letters. (Thank you!) This one from Margaret, “a devoted reader” was my favorite. Other than the generous cultural love fest between us, it’s great to know we have devoted …
Humans are wired to see faces, even in inanimate objects. It’s called Pareidolia. Pareidolia is the tendency for seeing faces in inanimate objects like the moon, clouds, ink blots, or abstract patterns. Pareidolia used to be considered a symptom of human psychosis, but it is now seen as a normal human tendency. We are so …
Aberrations; an artist’s journey with blindness. Solo show by Kathy Paul
Kathy Paul was a student in my figure drawing class when a sequence of strokes in her optic nerves left her almost completely blind. She has been drawing nearly every day since. In her multi year work of rehabilitation, Paul has produced a series of extraordinary drawings that call attention to the experience of sight itself.
Kathy Paul had a stroke in her right eye in 2019, leaving her with double vision. After several months of adjusting to her new disability, she had a stroke in her left eye, leaving her almost completely blind, with a full loss of color. These are the drawings she made in an attempt to rehabilitate her optic nerves, and learn to see again.
Aberrations; an artist’s journey with blindness
Kathy Paul
Closing Reception: 6-9pm Saturday, March 11
SAL Gallery
5516 4th Ave S
Seattle WA 98108
Entrance at North Gate
Artist’s Statement
This is a story about the restorative power of art.
In 2019 I was taking art classes at the Seattle Artist League, and I had an optic nerve stroke in my right eye. It left me with double vision. I saw double lines outlining everything. I saw aberrations and at times things were blurred. The double lines had a shiny silver look making them stand out. I felt lost, but one of my classes at the League was about how Cezanne shifted space when he drew. It seemed like my lines and his lines matched.
I developed my ability to draw what I saw, and I enjoyed the work. I believed that working like this would help rehabilitate my vision. Then after several months a second stroke struck my left eye. I had almost no vision and total color blindness. The double vision had been replaced by a white world. At times I could barely see the light outline of the model. I needed strong contrast to be able to see. I started out by drawing what little I did see. I felt at times like I was walking off a cliff when I attempted to draw what I could not see. I would draw the curve of an object, then a line near it, and go around the room drawing lines and shapes that I saw. As the months went by and the optic nerves healed I began to see more and more. Now I am left with what is called popcorn vision. With my right eye I see white dots everywhere. My left eye has a lot of blind spots.
Each day is different visually. I never know how well I will be able to see.
Color is coming back a little. At first it was floating green patches above plants, and tiny little rainbows. I can only see the brightest primary and secondary colors. I am beginning to very slowly use a bit of color in my work. However, drawing remains my first love. I hope you enjoy my artwork as much as I enjoy creating it. It has given me back my life.
Aberrations; an artist’s journey with blindness
Kathy Paul
Closing Reception: 6-9pm Saturday, March 11
SAL Gallery
5516 4th Ave S
Seattle WA 98108
Entrance at North Gate
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