Being Interviewed

One of the most unique experiences I've had since becoming a legally blind artist has been being interviewed by TV stations and newspaper journalists.  It amazes me as to how quickly they can capture a mood and turn it into a story.  My very first television interview was a Live at Five segment by Pam Towsier of Channel 3 news at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind in Madison.  The first thing they have you do is to get into position.  Then there's a brief countdown, a huge light turns on above the camera, and the next thing you know, you're being asked questions.  It's kind of hard to keep your focus, and it almost seems surreal that your image and words are being projected out to thousands of people that very minute. 

The next experience I had was more along the lines of a documentary type taping.  This is not scripted, but you do have the ability to edit and put together pieces that flow into a complete story.  This is a more relaxed setting and to me, was most informative.  This was done by Sam Sorenson by NBC 15 while doing a "Your Stories" interview.  This showed me painting, a brief interview in my living room, and a back history of why I started my artistic endeavors.

 My last television interview was done in a studio in Tomah, WI by Steve Peterson and was geared around the launch of my website.  This was a totally different experience, as a group of people came together to make the news brief happen.  This also was very relaxing, and had a wonderful atmosphere to project creativity.  In none of these situations was I nervous at all, but rather excited to have my art and story being showcased that capacity.  Through these stories, being told on the airwaves, you never know who you're going to affect, or who may hear them and receive inspiration.  This is what is very meaningful to me. 

See these interviews here.

One Thing Leads to Another

My first real art show was at the Memorial Union Galleries in Madison, WI.  This was back in the summer of 2006.  Someone who viewed my paintings contacted the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, and from that, I wound up not only showing at the council, but got a live interview on Live at Five with Pam Towsier.  The Council show led to them asking me if I ever heard of the VSA. 

"Pegasus" - one of my earlier original pieces, now available in my etsy shop.



The VSA sponsors a call for art twice a year: one in the fall, and another one for the Art Fair on the Square in Madison at the end of the summer.  The VSA has proven to be worthwhile endeavor.  The next show that I found out about was an international show for the blind in Fullerton, CA called Shared Visions.  I have been with the Shared Visions show now for 7 years.  That show led me to the Second Sense Passionate Focus Show in Chicago.  These two shows are geared toward people with visual impairments, but the shows are juried and the quality of work is phenomenal. 

I'm very honored to have gotten to the point that I am in my art career.  I never know what's around the corner, who will see my art, and what it will lead to.  In the future, I am working on branching out and entering other juried shows, not specific to the visually impaired.  In conjunction with this, I truly enjoy doing local shows such as at The Red Geranium here in Mauston, WI, the Fountain Chateau in Hustler, WI, and an open house coming up soon at Diane Dahl's home, another local artist from Mauston.  These gatherings help to showcase not only my talent, but also the products that feature my original art.  These are the most recent things that I am actively pursuing over the holidays. 
Before I know it, it will soon be spring, and the whole cycle of opportunities will start all over again.