Sight-impaired Artist Creates Happiness-SACH

Through my art I have the ability to transform images and ideas that I create in a space of pure consciousness, to be fully expressed in our third dimensional plane of existence. In creating artistically my living reality by extension is healthier, happier, fuller, more enriched, more vibrant and abundantly prosperous. Art is my lifeline and I derive great pleasure in tapping into it to support my wellbeing, and to share this amazing resource to support the sustained wellbeing of others.

In my freshman year of college, I lost my sense of vision and had to relearn how to live my life. I’ve had to and continue to make countless adaptations to thrive in a world of sight, while I live with blindness.

I come from an artistic family and as a child, I vividly remember always being connected to drawing and collaging. In losing my eyesight, I automatically believed that my connection to art was lost and gave away all of my art supplies, acrylic paints, pastels, and India inks.

The funny thing is, our reality is truly what we make it. While I thought I had given up on art, my art had not given up on me. Despite blindness, my connection to creativity grew stronger. Over several years, through trial and error, I developed my own way to draw and paint with acrylics. I then attended a conference in California where a pre-conference workshop was held, entitled “Healing Through the Arts.” It was there that I fell in love with art all over again.

I later fully developed a method to create art and I can trust it to work every time! I draw an image with a china marker, as it has an oil base texture, or a charcoal pencil so I can feel what I am drawing. Once satisfied with my drawing, I utilize Fiskar scissors to cut out the image. I also use the Fiskar razor edge micro-tip scissors to cut-out intricate image details in my drawings; to reproduce the image on canvas with precision. I use the image cut-out as my stencil on the canvas. I start painting and continue employing the act of cutting and placing cut-outs to guide me all the way throughout the process.

They say “the proof is in the pudding,” and my work has been proofed by countless people across the globe! They are mesmerized by my artwork; its details and precision. So often I’m asked if I’m really blind. It’s a lovely compliment that I appreciate each time. In hearing it, I delight in the understanding that my vision is present within me and is far more powerful than the loss of my physical sight. It is a beautiful reminder of how art heals, connects, brings joy, excites, promotes intrigue and inner reflection.

When we think of scissors, we can imagine endless creative projects where we can carve out shapes, textures and more. For someone with blindness, scissors can promote emotions of fear and anxiety. Regardless of where we may initially find ourselves on that spectrum, we can overcome any blocks to working with scissors when we shift to joy, and imagining creative images within our mind. Art can heal and when we invite healing into our lives, the use of scissors can come with ease and confidence.

Art vibrates frequencies of happiness throughout my entire being. It affords me the comfort to release my fears and create unapologetically! My mind is filled with vastly vivid images, creative ideas, and a burning desire to take what I see there and manifest it into tangible expressions that connect people in a multitude of ways.

As most individuals with blindness recognize objects by their sense of touch. I make handmade greeting cards decorated with my drawings and I utilize Fiskar decorative scissors to make my cards more tactile; like adding texture to the various border designs.

When I served a Disability Youth Advocate, I often incorporated art in my workshops, and youth participants enjoyed utilizing the decorative scissors for craft projects; while they were learning the basics of self-advocacy.

During one of the most humbling experiences in my life, the simple yet powerful gift of art helped to lift and guide me. Last year in the midst of the pandemic, my tribe, The Navajo Nation was significantly impacted by the coronavirus, and we had the misfortune of mourning the passing of many. My mom took up an idea to find a pattern to make face masks. We decided on a pattern, and she started sewing face masks for our family. To assist, I created a template out of poster board and used it as a guide to cut out the fabric needed to sew the masks.

I soon noticed that my mom could only sit and sew for so long, so I asked her to teach me what to do, and I learned to sew. I completely abandoned any fear of the needle speedily stitching and I moved forward to cut fabric and sew hundreds and hundreds of facemasks. Our facemasks had three layers of fabric and a pocket for extra layers to be added in them. We donated masks to Manuelito Children’s Home, Coyote Canyon Rehabilitation Center for Adults with Disabilities and to Navajo Nation Chapter Houses for distribution to their local residents. This project meant the world to me because I knew our face masks would help make a difference.

I truly enjoy the creative art of expression; either through visual arts like painting, creating facemasks, introducing art projects to promote growth and development of youth, social activism and more. I take pride in what I do and as person with a “disability,” art helps me level the playing field, and Fiskars creates amazing tools for me to carve out amazing creations.

Happiness can always be found when we allow ourselves to create. I celebrate art and appreciate Fiskars for creating this platform for me to share a bit about my story and creative inspirations.