(PreserveMacForte.com) Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a potentially life-altering eye condition that can rob people of their ability to do normal daily chores and activities such as reading, driving, watching television and… painting.
But, according to This Is Gloucestershire recently, someone forgot to inform at least one UK resident about the limitations that AMD tends to impose upon people.
According to an article from the newspaper, sight issues have not gotten in the way of John Faulkner and his painting ambitions. Faulkner is a 76-year-old man from Imperial Square, and he continues to put paint brush to canvas despite living with AMD. AMD is the UK’s leading cause of vision loss, and more than a few studies suggest that the AMD situation is expected to grow as life expectancy rates continue climb.
According to the article, Faulkner took up paining at around the same period that he was first diagnosed with AMD. He explained in the article that he learned he had the eye condition in 1997, and at around the same time he started doing watercolor painting for fun. While AMD did not force him to retire his paint brush, Faulkner said in the article that he did have to make some modifications to his approach. With his deteriorating vision, he switched to oil from watercolor, a move that provides more flexibility as relates to achieving the best results from an artistic perspective. In order to continue painting, Faulkner also started using magnifying spectacles, a robust fluorescent lamp and a magnifying glass.
The article noted that Faulkner’s works of art will be showcased from September 4 to 7 at the Menier Galler’s Peripheral Visions exhibition. The display, according to the article, is being sponsored by the Macular Disease Society. The event will commemorate the society’s quarter-century anniversary and showcase the works of artists who have vision-impairment issues. According to the article, the society will also feature a picture by Faulkner in its 2013 calendar.
Helen Jackman, CEO of the society, said in the article that the society is “very impressed” with Faulkner’s paintings and is also pleased to be able to showcase his work in its calendar.