May 11, 2010: Painter blind from birth

Undertoad · 05-11-2010, 05:45 PM

Painter Esref Armagan is in a unique situation: he's been blind from birth, and yet, manages to produce these paintings that are accurate perceptions of reality.

From the biography section of his website:

Quote:

He needs absolute quiet when working. First, using a Braille stylus, he etches an outline of his drawing. He needs to feel that he is "inside" his painting-- in fact, when he is drawing a picture of the sea, he often wonders if he should wear a life jacket so as not drown! When he is satisfied with his drawing, he starts to apply the oils with his fingers. Because he applies only one color at a time (the colors would smear otherwise), he must wait two or three days for the color to dry before applying the next color. This method of painting is entirely unique to Mr. Armagan. He receives no assistance or training from any individual. He also learned to draw perspective.

He has also developed his own methods of doing portraits. He asks a sighted person to draw around a photograph, then he turns the paper over and feeling it with his left hand, he transfer what he feels onto another sheet of paper, later adding color. He has done portraits of the former first lady of Turkey, the current president and current prime minister.

Amazing.

squirell nutkin · 05-11-2010, 06:56 PM

Adapting a Ray Charles joke here:

Do you know why Esref is always smiling?

Because he can't see that his paintings suck.

Actually, I am impressed.

monster · 05-11-2010, 09:16 PM

How does he get the colors right?

dmg1969 · 05-12-2010, 11:28 AM

How sad...he's blind and can still paint better than me. Nice!

JNathan · 05-12-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

He receives no assistance or training from any individual.

You would think he would need some kind of assistance just to know what colors are what. Incredibly impressive though. Like Beethoven composing music.

Shawnee123 · 05-12-2010, 11:54 AM

I would imagine over the years he has learned (been told) that pears (that he knows by touch and smell) are 'green' or 'yellow' and probably has his paints and palettes set up a certain way.

squirell nutkin · 05-12-2010, 12:36 PM

maybe he;s synesthetic.

Gravdigr · 05-12-2010, 03:37 PM

Possessed of synesthesia or not, if he has been blind from birth, how does he know what a watermelon looks like? Or that it's red on the inside, green on the outside, with little black seeds? I'm calling bullshit. Somehow. Somewhere.

That said, I can't paint for shit.

squirell nutkin · 05-12-2010, 04:16 PM

Probably from listening to stuff like
"O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June; etc"

Spexxvet · 05-12-2010, 04:19 PM

I think they're paint-by-numbers.

spudcon · 05-13-2010, 02:47 AM

I agree with Gravdigr. How does a person blind from birth even understand the concept of color. Without a point of reference, can anyone explain the color blue?

ZenGum · 05-13-2010, 06:00 AM

Squirrel, Spudcon ... you two stay the #$%& out of my PhD thesis, okay? :death stare:

Shawnee123 · 05-13-2010, 06:59 AM

How do you perceive color? Because someone told you 'red' is red.

I don't think it's that farfetched to think someone told him what color things are, and that he organizes his paints in a way to use them. That's Blind 101.

Or maybe it's a big grand scheme. He's not REALLY blind, and he doesn't REALLY paint.

edit: at least no one cried 'shopped!

spudcon · 05-13-2010, 07:52 AM

Shopped!

xoxoxoBruce · 05-13-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Squirrel, Spudcon ... you two stay the #$%& out of my PhD thesis, okay? :death stare:

So, they give out PhDs in bullshit down there.

05-11-2010, 06:56 PM	#2
squirell nutkin has a second hand user title Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a Nut House Posts: 2,017	Adapting a Ray Charles joke here: Do you know why Esref is always smiling? Because he can't see that his paintings suck. Actually, I am impressed. __________________ And now I'm finished posting.

05-11-2010, 09:16 PM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	How does he get the colors right? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

05-12-2010, 11:28 AM	#4
dmg1969 I got nothing Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 486	How sad...he's blind and can still paint better than me. Nice! __________________ Void where prohibited. Your results may vary. Not intended for resale. Do not remove tag. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

05-12-2010, 11:54 AM	#6
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I would imagine over the years he has learned (been told) that pears (that he knows by touch and smell) are 'green' or 'yellow' and probably has his paints and palettes set up a certain way. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

05-12-2010, 12:36 PM	#7
squirell nutkin has a second hand user title Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a Nut House Posts: 2,017	maybe he;s synesthetic. __________________ And now I'm finished posting.

05-12-2010, 03:37 PM	#8
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Possessed of synesthesia or not, if he has been blind from birth, how does he know what a watermelon looks like? Or that it's red on the inside, green on the outside, with little black seeds? I'm calling bullshit. Somehow. Somewhere. That said, I can't paint for shit. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

05-12-2010, 04:16 PM	#9
squirell nutkin has a second hand user title Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a Nut House Posts: 2,017	Probably from listening to stuff like "O my Luve's like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June; etc" __________________ And now I'm finished posting.

05-12-2010, 04:19 PM	#10
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I think they're paint-by-numbers. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

05-13-2010, 02:47 AM	#11
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	I agree with Gravdigr. How does a person blind from birth even understand the concept of color. Without a point of reference, can anyone explain the color blue? __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

05-13-2010, 06:00 AM	#12
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Squirrel, Spudcon ... you two stay the #$%& out of my PhD thesis, okay? :death stare: __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

05-13-2010, 06:59 AM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	How do you perceive color? Because someone told you 'red' is red. I don't think it's that farfetched to think someone told him what color things are, and that he organizes his paints in a way to use them. That's Blind 101. Or maybe it's a big grand scheme. He's not REALLY blind, and he doesn't REALLY paint. edit: at least no one cried 'shopped! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby Last edited by Shawnee123; 05-13-2010 at 07:33 AM.

05-13-2010, 07:52 AM	#14
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	Shopped! __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)