2012 MSAA Art Showcase Entrants

View this month’s Artist of the Month

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Catherine Nichols – Deland, FL

I was born legally blind. My legal blindness only lasted until I was in the 8th grade. I then had vision good enough to barely drive soon, even with a doctor’s note, but I knew that my vision as anything else, would eventually deteriorate slowly, which it did, and I was legally blind again, finding a career in medical transcription after being an RN for nearly 10 years.

Soon, I would become plagued with strange symptoms, and I finally got a diagnosis; RRMS, or relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. This was after a trying time to find out what was going on in my body, as if eating away at the core.

I taught myself to draw about 3-4 years ago, and was blessed again with so much loving support, that I know for sure there are angels in our lives that we can appreciate, such as family; the good care of our doctors, and the loving support of our friends. I will never give up. I live 1 day at a time now. I know each day changes, and for each day, we have more hope for the future. My art speaks of changes that my heart has dealt with for so many years, with true faith in what the future will hold.

My art depicts in each drawing, in each stroke, these words, as written by Saint Patrick,
“I arise today,
Through the strength of heaven,
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
And Firmness of rock!”

 

Coming out of the wild
Coming out of the wild
 - Artwork

Fox on the lake
Fox on the lake
 - Artwork

The old broken pier
The old broken pier
 - Artwork