John Bramblitt is a blind artist known for his vibrant paintings. His work Shared Moments was the first to catch my eye. I was intrigued to learn how Bramblitt could paint such a detailed and carefully composed scene without vision and was further fascinated by his artistic choices.
In the FAQ section of Bramblitt’s website, the artist explains how he is able to decipher between different paint colors by their textures and viscosity. He mixes the paints to achieve various effects, as well, such as glazing. Simply put, the key to painting without sight for Bramblitt is by using his sense of touch.
In his work Shared Moments, I can see the importance of touch in painting through the textures of the paint, in addition to Bramblitt’s ability to nonetheless highlight the value of color. The more obvious and thick brushstrokes on the leftward autumn tree provoke a different response from the smoother application of paint on the wet ground. The thick-leaved nature of the trees provide an emphasis on emotion; the brushstrokes pop out at viewers. Additionally, their fiery colors represent the passion of what appears to be two lovers strolling down a sidewalk. Warm colors like red and yellow convey love, jubilation, and hope. The red color of the umbrella shared by the couple further emphasizes these feelings and illustrates the loving relationship between the two lovers.
The smoothness of the ground beneath the couple’s feet constrasts the thick brushstrokes of the trees, suggesting a sense of ease between the romantic partners. The blue color that dominates the pathway further conveys this ease. Still, the reflection of other colors onto the sidewalk communicates that the couple’s relationship is not one-note. Reds, greens, and other hues signify a dynamic bond between the partners and furthermore connect the foundation of their relationship (the walkway) to their burning passion represented by the trees. A trail of warm colors circle around the couple’s feet and lead to the base of the rightmost tree. From that tree trails a line of other trees receding into the horizon. The heads of the colossal plants all radiate golden-white light, like street lamps. It is as if the trees are expressing that the couple have a bright future ahead of them, as they walk in the same direction the trees flow into the horizon.
Bramblitt’s Shared Moments is a touching work of art, and the magnificence Bramblitt achieves through it without sight to guide him is unbelievable. As I admire the work repeatedly, I frequently think of Bramblitt’s words on his experience as a blind artist: “What I discovered was a whole new world of perception that in many ways equaled eyesight, but in some ways actually exceeded it.” Bramblitt believes that sight can be a limiting factor of detail in art, and it makes me reflect on my own limitations. There is always a different perspective through which one can view art to deepen their understanding and sense of enlightenment.
References
https://bramblitt.com/pages/faq