Master Thesis- Art Created by Visually Impaired Adults

Master Thesis Cover and Poster

Photography Class

Arts and Crafts Class

Ceramics Class

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Stevie Wonder [1950-] said, "is a different kind of lyric; it's very picturesque. I can see everything that I'm writing; I can visualize all those things happening."

The topic for my master thesis was Art Created by Visually Impaired Adults. During the 13 years I volunteered at Visions, I witnessed many incredible things that the visually impaired could do.

This experience of working with them left me with curiosity and a desire to investigate how they create art and their processes.

Research was a quasi-qualitative study..
9 participants in total (were interviewed in the photography, arts & crafts and ceramics class)
3 Instructors (one was interviewed and two answered a questionnaire)
3 Professional Artists (two were interviewed and one answered a questionnaire)

Some findings were as follows:
Visually impaired adults were able to create art with minimal difficulty and enjoyed the art making process.

Many participants had a visualization of what they wanted to create. They used their senses to guide them in the process of creating art.

Some participants did not have a plan about the artwork they wanted to create. Instead of relying on a plan they allowed the medium to be their guide.

Visually impaired adults had goals of selling their artwork for profit, giving their creations to others as gifts, and even becoming a well-known artist as well.