Creating something beautiful is a healing outlet. It’s such a powerful way to feel connected and to channel loose energy into something positive. And, there are so many ways to do it! Some like to spend their time creating edible art, like cupcakes with ornate decorations made of colored icing or, by making a 7-layered lasagna to share. Maybe it’s working with your hands and making things for the house like furniture or a vase. These are all ways to turn time and energy into things of beauty and joy!
Whichever way you choose to feed your soul, do it over and over again. People all over the world have found original ways to express themselves that work for them. And, for this man, he’s uncovered a particularly original method – it involves taking a mundane object and using it differently to produce unbelievable art unlike any other.
Paul Smith’s artistic vision is one-of-a-kind. Born in 1921 with severe cerebral palsy, Paul has lived with his disability for his entire life. His movements are very limited, and as a result, was unable to attend school or eat, clothe or bathe himself. The loss of fine motor control in his hands and face have made it difficult for him to lead a normal life and find a way to express himself. He was eventually admitted to the Rose Haven retirement facility in Roseburg, Oregon, USA.
But, he is determined and, even though he can’t hold paint brushes or a pallet, he made a discovery as a young man that changed his outlook on life. Using only the 10 symbol keys on his most prized possession, a typewriter, Paul has carved out an artistic niche for himself. He uses his one finger to tap away at the symbols that bring to life on paper the visions in his mind. He uses black and blue bands of ink and feeds the paper into the typewriter to tap the desired keys to create a “painting.” The places he’s lived in or visited provides the inspiration for his artwork.
He’s created hundreds of works of art using this method. One of the workers at the retirement home says, “You give me a typewriter, I can’t even type 12 words without looking at my hands. There’s no way I could come up with a picture looking like that!” His pieces are highly detailed, each one a beautifully thought out display of symbols clustered and scattered to form an instantly recognizable image. From faces and animals to landscapes and interiors, Paul’s joy in life is finding ways to be creative.
And, those who know him say the artist is even more inspiring than his art. “It’s wonderful to watch him work and it’s wonderful to enjoy his art but not as good as enjoying him.” His faith and his finger keep him going, one keystroke at a time.
Click below to watch Paul’s remarkable story.
