This week’s challenge, “create,” has been a frustrating one. What to post? A thousand times the question was asked and a thousand times not even an echo replied. It’s terribly ironic considering my livelihood depends on creativity.
However, one of this week’s challenge responses, at lifebymagdalene, set off a flash of inspiration. My Dad! Eighty years young, Dad has been painting and drawing all his life. He has always inspired me with his artwork, whether a complex painting of a naval battle or a quick pencil sketch of Broadway Joe Namath for me to color with my broken crayons. I’d always aspired to his level of skill and talent.
And if any more inspiration was needed, my Dad is blind, his vision stolen by macular degeneration.
He continues, each week, to challenge himself in art sessions at the Braille Institute. Some of his works:


Be sure to check out all the responses for the weekly photo challenge at:
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/weekly-photo-challenge-create/#more-9078
Some favs from this week:
http://p0nky.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/weekly-photo-challenge-create-hain-ka/
http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/weekly-photo-challenge-create/
http://gobetweenflames.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/weekly-photo-challenge-create/
http://simplysage.org/2012/03/04/weekly-photo-challenge-create-portrait-of-success/
http://mothergrogan.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/weekly-photo-challenge-create/
http://isobelandcat.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/weekly-photo-challenge-create-the-baobab-tree/
http://pdf34.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/weekly-photo-challenge-create/
http://missperfectlyimperfect.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/weekly-photo-challenge-create/
http://windagainstcurrent.com/2012/06/22/weekly-photo-challenge-create/
artistic!
Thanks! Dad just keeps on painting even as the wolrd fades from view.
Oh my, your dad is awesome! My daughter is an incoming 3rd year college Graphics Major in the US and my brother is a Graphics Artist and many times, they lack inspiration (so they say)…well, they should see your dad’s work!
God bless the work of his hands and may he continue to challenge those who can see, to view the world with a new perspective. ..that they will find inspiration in the mundane of things and elevate these to a higher art form.
@))–>>———–
wow! your dad is inspiring! lovely paintings!
Thanks! He still has a tiny amount of vision and is able to create these with much care and labor. (it’s almost like trying to paint in a dark room with the only light being a single Christmas light bulb in another room.)
his story is so heartbreakingly beautiful! Love his spirit and tendency to keep going!
Beautiful… especially the Bamboo painting. 🙂
Thank you! I’m a little proud of my Dad! 🙂
Sweet! 😉
Wow, beautiful Japanese art!
My Dad does wonderful work. I hope he can continue to do so the rest of his days. Thanks for stopping by to comment!