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 The double vision had been replaced by a white world.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.
Instructors at the League are encouraged to take each other’s classes. It is a fun way for us to continue our learning, get new ideas, and stay connected with each other. Shruti Ghatak has been taking all the League classes she can, and evidently she sketches our portraits while we are teaching. Ghatak received her …
The League has two different Friday portrait classes this summer. Which one would you rather be in? Would you rather…. Combine drawings from live models with studies from art history? …or study a variety of ages, expressions, and faces? Would you rather…. Add meaningful elements from imagination and intuition? Or measure and exaggerate to pull …
In a quiet moment, take time to recall some memory that you find interesting or enjoyable. Perhaps this was a story told by your family, or some moment that formed an idea of yourself or someone around you. Maybe a photograph, smell or object will help bring back your recollection. As you sit, pull out …
Excerpt from Mitchell Albala’s Book: Simplification and Massing The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. – Hans Hoffman At a recent workshop, several students pointed to a cottonwood tree that was gently swaying in the breeze. “How are we going to paint all those leaves?” they asked. …
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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