Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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I'm so happy to have found this sub!!! Any other artists/makers here? (self.Blind)
submitted by dontwriteonme
I started losing my eyesight around a year ago (finally figured out my auto-immune craziness caused really bad cataracts to develop).
I had to quit my job as a sign artist for Trader Joe's after putting in 7 years of my life in that trade. Also had to give up a year-long residency (in papermaking and letterpress print) that the university essentially created just for me. Had to pack up my entire art studio, put everything in storage and move in with my mom.
My life was in pieces & I was barely hanging on by a thread...
BUT (!) now I'm literally picking up the pieces and putting them back together and realizing how strong that little thread was, by working with collage and embroidery! I still get frustrated sometimes, but I try to live by the mantra that my eye sight may be fcked but my **VISION **is crystal clear!
Anyone else have a simikar journey?
What kind of materials do you like to use?
I had to quit my job as a sign artist for Trader Joe's after putting in 7 years of my life in that trade. Also had to give up a year-long residency (in papermaking and letterpress print) that the university essentially created just for me. Had to pack up my entire art studio, put everything in storage and move in with my mom.
My life was in pieces & I was barely hanging on by a thread...
BUT (!) now I'm literally picking up the pieces and putting them back together and realizing how strong that little thread was, by working with collage and embroidery! I still get frustrated sometimes, but I try to live by the mantra that my eye sight may be fcked but my **VISION **is crystal clear!
Anyone else have a simikar journey?
What kind of materials do you like to use?
yourmommaisaunicorn 6 points 3y ago
I picked up knitting because it was easier to rely on the textile touch than it was a paint brush.
dontwriteonme [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Nice! There are some really cool sculptural applications for knitting/crochet too!
HegemoneMilo 5 points 3y ago
I love your thread metaphor! Here's a youtuber who does embroidery and is blind. $1
dontwriteonme [OP] 5 points 3y ago
Thanks so much! Yay I lovvve finding small youtube channels! Also hearing her describe her work is really helpful as I struggle with communicating the aesthetic concepts of my work to those who may be even less sighted than me.
HegemoneMilo 3 points 3y ago
As you're exploring your creativity, you may find other fiberarts are appealing... such as spinning your own embroidery thread or knitting, crocheting, weaving.
dontwriteonme [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Full disclosure I am lowkey a craft FREAK like sculptural basketry, weaving with paper and all the wacky stuff I can get my hands on lol. They just seem too obscure to mention but I'm stoked that other people are talking about it! I'm working on turning handmade cotton paper into twine and using that to make a basket at the moment.
HegemoneMilo 1 points 3y ago
Oh! That sounds like a lot of fun! I'm a handspinner, knitter, felter.
CosmicBunny97 4 points 3y ago
I’m not an artist (I’ve tried drawing and i suck at it... however, i really liked painting when I did it in my senior year of high school). Just out of curiosity, because I’m curious about trying it, how do you do embroidery?
dontwriteonme [OP] 2 points 3y ago
You stretch a piece of fabric around a wooden hoop and then take a needle with thick floss-like thread and stitch in and out of the fabric to create different marks and textures. For example a basic stitch just creates dashes but you can also make little knots or interwoven threads, or even leave long loops of thread to communicate someone's long hair. They have kits that come with all the materials and a color by number design!
CosmicBunny97 3 points 3y ago
Thanks! I’ll have to give it a shot.
dontwriteonme [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Yay! I really hope you enjoy it. It's really therapeutic because you'll develop a rhythm as you get more comfortable and the arm motions are a kind of choreography which is really lovely, but it's also great for when you're frustrated because you are literally creating something beautiful by using a stabbing motion haha. Feel free to DM me or reach out in whatever way works best for you & keep me posted on your creations!
bradley22 2 points 3y ago
You might want to check out r/blindcreators.
dontwriteonme [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Yay! I am now their 13th member! What a cool lil sub, thank you so so much for sharing it with me!!
bradley22 1 points 3y ago
No problem.
TheBlindBookLover 2 points 3y ago
I am a crocheter. I was especially into painting and drawing into my preteens. At about 13, I decided to stop painting and drawing before my vision stopped me. Since then, I have been into knitting and crocheting. I am interested in getting into other fiber arts as well.
dontwriteonme [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Painting and drawing were never my thing either! My degree is in book arts! I have a ton of handmade paper that I wanted to put some poems in braille by punching holes through the back. You user name caught my attention! But I have ZERO experience with Braille. Would you mind giving me some insight on this concept?
TheBlindBookLover 1 points 3y ago
Hi. You can get a free braille slate and stylus from the National Federation of the Blind if you live in the States or at a low cost from Amazon as well. You can also get Braille curriculum from The Hadley Institute for the Blind. If you want to be able to write out your poetry simply for artistic purposes, you can also look up braille code cheat sheets on Google. I hope that this helps.
dontwriteonme [OP] 2 points 3y ago
This is all really great info, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I think I failed to communicate my idea. I am sighted enough to read standard text, but I am looking to make poetry based art that can be enjoyed by Braille users. I'm curious to know if this is even something Braille readers would be interested in? I make paper from different fibers that have different textures weights and even different sounds when manipulated. I'm hoping this could add to the experience of reading with one's fingers?
TheBlindBookLover 1 points 3y ago
I love these ideas! You should totally do it!
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
I'm a painter! Might switch over crafts tho since I'm loosing more and more of my vision
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