Problem/Need

Art is a way for people to show an emotion or a different way of looking at things. It’s difficult for people who are blind to create art because they can’t see a picture of what they’re trying to draw or paint and it’s difficult for them to use a paint brush without getting messy.  Art teachers and others who want to be more inclusive of the visually impaired community need to come up with an adaptive way for a blind person to paint. I designed and created a unique tool so a blind person can make an abstract art painting without having to use a paint brush.

Goal

My goal is to modify the “movement painting” tool and structure I built last year for a class project, so that blind or visually impaired people can use it to create abstract art.

Research

Art is a creative and emotional way for someone to express how to uniquely see something through their own eyes. Most people think that art is something that you have to see, like a painting rather than an emotional and imaginative  idea to express oneself. Abstract Art shows more of a person’s feelings to be creative instead of something that represents reality in today’s world. Abstract Expressionism was popular in the mid 20th century to give an artist freedom to focus on the action of painting and the ability to feel their painting through non‐traditional methods. Abstract Expressionism is a great way for people who are blind to paint because it doesn’t always have to look exactly like a picture of something or someone, so it’s less stressful to do. Jackson Pollack was an abstract expressionist artist who created a drip painting style with liquid paint in the 1950s by listening to music. He believed we shouldn’t be producing art from images we see, but create something from our own imagination with some sort of action and in a unique way.

 “It doesn’t matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said.”  -­‐ Jackson Pollock

Overall Design Requirements

•    There should be a container to keep all parts, paint, and paper inside it while using, so the paint doesn’t splatter outside the paper and make a mess.
•    The painting tool must be safe to use.
•    The tool needs to be part of a simple­‐to-­use structure that is to an easy setup and put away.
•    All parts should be reusable except for the paint and paper.
•    It has to be easily transportable so that someone can take it with them.
•    The bottle or painting container needs to be suitable to hold paint.
•    Everything should be easy to clean up.
•    It should be cost effective to build and not too expensive to buy.
•    If someone is blind, it is important to create instructions in Braille.
•    The pieces of the structure and tool must be labeled in Braille.
•    While using this, the person who is blind should be able to listen to music to help inspire their creative images.

Redesign Materials:

•    Use a similar sized plastic container:  27.74 in X 16.61 in x 6 in
•    PVC pipe: ½ in. x 5 ft., two elbow connectors, and two end pieces
•    Eye hook and screw:  #10 x 1 3/8 in.
•    Swivel Belt Snap
•    Chain: 2 ft.
•    Valspar acrylic paint,  Blue, and Yellow
•    Acrylic Art

The total cost of building the Paint Drip Tool.  It only cost $20 to rebuild it.

Prototype

This is my next design, built with 3 PVC pipes securely held in place, and a chain and screw eye to hold the paint container to the chain while it slides back and forth. The container also has a cover to keep the pieces inside when not being used.