Thirty years ago, after being diagnosed with RP, a progressive retinal eye disease, I stopped sketching and crafting acrylic displays and furniture. I couldn’t see the drawings and back then, there weren’t talking calculators or large print cash registers. I became unemployed. I learned to write creatively to cope with no longer being able to draw and sketch.

Today I am celebrating picking the paint back up, trusting my former affinity for the arts and being thankful for YouTube and other artists who have encouraged me to go back to my art after losing all but my light perception in both eyes.

Here is the first mixed media piece called Folk Flower made with puff paint and a stencil, bordered by rich green satin ribbon.

The image shows a six-inch square design handcrafted artwork featuring a sunflower.  The sunflower petals are bright orange and appear to be made from a glossy material with a slightly crumpled texture. The center of the sunflower is black with a pattern resembling sunflower seeds. The sunflower is set against a textured, natural brown background, possibly burlap. The artwork is framed by a green fabric border, and it is held upright by two clear, plastic stands. The background is blurred greenery.