John Bramblitt is an amazing painter, but there are hundreds of great painters in the world.
The one thing that makes John Bramblitt stand out and different from everybody else, it that he’s 100% blind. He can’t see. He paints by seeing the painting with his hands. That, I still find it hard to believe. Please see his video demonstration at the bottom.
The first part of the interview was about the techniques John Bramblitt uses to paint. To be more precise, he uses acrylics with different textures to be able to identify the different colors.
John Bramblitt currently works as a consultant for museums in developing programs that are designed to include everyone – no matter their ability or disability. He blindfolds people and teaches them to pain the same way he paints, and in about 10 minutes, everyone is painting.
Prior to his blindness, John studied at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where he graduated with honors.
When Bramblitt lost the last of his vision in 2001 due to complications with epilepsy and Lyme’s disease, his hopes of becoming a creative writing teacher were shattered and he sunk into a deep depression. He felt disconnected from family and friends, alienated and alone.
After a year of darkness, he discovered painting. He learned to distinguish between different colored paints by feeling their textures with his fingers. He taught himself how to paint using raised lines to help him find his way around the canvas, and through something called haptic visualization, which enables him to “see” his subjects through touch. He now paints amazingly lifelike portraits of people he’s never seen–including his wife and son.
While art was always a major part of John’s life it was not until he lost his sight in 2001 that he began to paint, and it was then that he says, “Art reshaped my life.”
John’s paintings are intensely personal and are mostly taken from real people and events in his life.
John’s workshops are unique in the art world in that they not only span the gap between the beginner and the professional artists but also include adaptive techniques for people with disabilities. According to John, “Everyone has an artist somewhere in them; sometimes they just need a little help letting it out.”
John Bramblitt has appeared internationally in print, TV, and radio. He has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Discovery Channel, and BBC Radio and TV to name a few outlets. He’s been featured in The New York Times and Psychology Today. He has designed the artwork for numerous magazine covers and even the artwork for major film productions, and now he visits the Alain Guillot Podcast.
He’s the subject of the award-winning documentary shorts “Line of Sight’ and “Bramblitt.” His work has received much recognition including the ‘Most Inspirational Video of 2008′ from YouTube and three Presidential Service Awards for his innovative art workshops
John Bramblitt is also the author of the award-winning book, Shouting in the Dark. Shouting in the Dark is the story of Bramblitt’s life, his journey navigating through this new territory of blindness, and how he ultimately rekindles his joy, passion, and relationships through art.
John also speaks all over the world about disabilities, art, and overcoming adversity.
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