Using the raised lines of fabric paint as his guide, John Bramblitt taught himself to paint after losing his sight. Click through the gallery to see some of his works and what inspired them, in his own words.
Using the raised lines of fabric paint as his guide, John Bramblitt taught himself to paint after losing his sight. Click through the gallery to see some of his works and what inspired them, in his own words.
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Cafe View": "I love to walk down old city streets as music plays and reverberates along the cobbled streets and stone walls. It could be New Orleans, Amsterdam or a dozen other places, but when the music starts, the color just seems to drip from the walls and color the air all around you. It is hard to forget a walk like that."
"Cafe View": "I love to walk down old city streets as music plays and reverberates along the cobbled streets and stone walls. It could be New Orleans, Amsterdam or a dozen other places, but when the music starts, the color just seems to drip from the walls and color the air all around you. It is hard to forget a walk like that."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Echo": "Echo is actually an incredible dog. She has been on over 400 flights, taking me to museums and schools all over the nation. She actually represents a new way that guide dogs are trained now; she is one of the first in this country, making her capable of doing some pretty incredible things, like knowing the difference between a men's or ladies' bathroom, to remember what room I'm staying at in a hotel and just a ton of other things. I paint Echo about once every year."
"Echo": "Echo is actually an incredible dog. She has been on over 400 flights, taking me to museums and schools all over the nation. She actually represents a new way that guide dogs are trained now; she is one of the first in this country, making her capable of doing some pretty incredible things, like knowing the difference between a men's or ladies' bathroom, to remember what room I'm staying at in a hotel and just a ton of other things. I paint Echo about once every year."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Jeff Bridges": "From time to time I get to meet some amazing people. Mr. Bridges was an incredibly nice and humble man to meet and paint. The first thing he did when coming into the room was get down on the floor and play with Echo. You just have to like a guy like that."
"Jeff Bridges": "From time to time I get to meet some amazing people. Mr. Bridges was an incredibly nice and humble man to meet and paint. The first thing he did when coming into the room was get down on the floor and play with Echo. You just have to like a guy like that."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Melting Into the Music": "Music is a big part of my art. I actually have a form of synesthesia that makes it so that I see color when I hear music. My studio is dominated by large speakers that span around the room. I pick music that matches a composition that I am working on and very often [that] is where the color for my artwork comes from."
"Melting Into the Music": "Music is a big part of my art. I actually have a form of synesthesia that makes it so that I see color when I hear music. My studio is dominated by large speakers that span around the room. I pick music that matches a composition that I am working on and very often [that] is where the color for my artwork comes from."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Cast Off": "Sailboats are a theme I come back to time and again. I love the symbolism of freedom they represent. In this piece, the sky and water are actually the colors that I heard while listening to some music performed by Galactic, an amazing New Orleans jazz band."
"Cast Off": "Sailboats are a theme I come back to time and again. I love the symbolism of freedom they represent. In this piece, the sky and water are actually the colors that I heard while listening to some music performed by Galactic, an amazing New Orleans jazz band."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"The Look": "I love to paint all kinds of people doing all kinds of things, but I'm often drawn back to the simple lines and composition of a portrait. The fewer lines the better, just enough to guide the mind so that it understands the shape and form, and then lets the color come in and fill in the emotion."
"The Look": "I love to paint all kinds of people doing all kinds of things, but I'm often drawn back to the simple lines and composition of a portrait. The fewer lines the better, just enough to guide the mind so that it understands the shape and form, and then lets the color come in and fill in the emotion."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Cat and Fish Bowl": "I love to have fun with my art and love to paint all kinds of animals; often, these two interests meet up in a painting of mine. Is the cat hungry or just curious? I don't know that, but I do know that the model's name is Red. That's the cat, by the way. ... if the fish had a name, he kept it to himself."
"Cat and Fish Bowl": "I love to have fun with my art and love to paint all kinds of animals; often, these two interests meet up in a painting of mine. Is the cat hungry or just curious? I don't know that, but I do know that the model's name is Red. That's the cat, by the way. ... if the fish had a name, he kept it to himself."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Dark Side of the Moon": "Many of my paintings are inspired by a certain piece of music or a band; this piece comes directly from Pink Floyd. I love to hear the descriptions of what people say the model is feeling or how they describe what they feel from this piece. For some, it is sadness, while others feel a sense of empowerment from her."
"Dark Side of the Moon": "Many of my paintings are inspired by a certain piece of music or a band; this piece comes directly from Pink Floyd. I love to hear the descriptions of what people say the model is feeling or how they describe what they feel from this piece. For some, it is sadness, while others feel a sense of empowerment from her."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Paris at Night": "Night is a magical time for me. Music and the sounds of people are intensified, and for me, that means more color. While night for some may darken their mood, for me, I think it is a time when emotions and feelings can also run their highest."
"Paris at Night": "Night is a magical time for me. Music and the sounds of people are intensified, and for me, that means more color. While night for some may darken their mood, for me, I think it is a time when emotions and feelings can also run their highest."
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt
"Zimmie and Zoey": "Most of my paintings are of real people and animals that I am lucky enough to meet. My having to touch to 'see' what someone/thing looks like is especially fun when I get to work with a pair like these two pups!"
"Zimmie and Zoey": "Most of my paintings are of real people and animals that I am lucky enough to meet. My having to touch to 'see' what someone/thing looks like is especially fun when I get to work with a pair like these two pups!"
courtesy Jacqi Bramblitt