Steve Brazier
I first wrote to this newsletter many years ago. Someone had written unkindly about how bent and wizened Miss Outlaw appeared when she had taught art in the 1950's. I felt I had to point out that none of us looks our best as we age. Anyone could, and perhaps still can, see her self-portrait as a beautiful young woman in a chic beret in Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Much later, my first article 'Dogged Determination' was about the inspiration she gave me. Sadly she retired long before I failed my A level art, along with three out of four of my classmates. If only we had had her to show us the way. The ignominy of failure put me off painting for over 40 years.
I had suffered from macular degeneration since I was 36 and people now ask "How do you manage to paint?". Like most who are registered blind, I retain some vision. In my case the central field has gone and I can't read, write, drive or - worst of all - recognise faces. But I retain some peripheral vision and by getting very close, I can still work. Some excellent art teachers also help me to deal with the disability. Computer technology allows images to be massively enlarged. With a smart phone or tablet held to my left eye I can use the small area of the retina which still functions.
Many amateur painters struggle to attain freedom and 'looseness' associated with the Impressionists. I have no difficulty there as the world always looks like that to me. My use of colours also draws comment. I once asked a woman who had just bought one of my paintings at Nottingham University Summer Exhibition what she liked about it. "It's blue" she replied. Here again, the disability contributes. I don't see colours as I once did and often have happy accidents. That painting was supposed to be blue but perhaps it was bluer than I had intended.
Macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in Britain, particularly in its age-related form. It is hard to adjust but with help and persistence, there really are silver linings to the clouds. At least, they look silver to me. I know Miss Outlaw would understand.
An exhibition of Steve Brazier's paintings is at the Nottingham Society of Artists gallery at 73 Friar Lane, Nottingham from Tuesday 1st to Thursday 3rd September
Published in WMGS OPA Newsletter Autumn 2015