family art | Outside The Lines

How would you respond to a losing your eyesight? What if physical limitations forced you to rethink your favorite activities? Could you adapt?

Setbacks can too easily keep us from doing what we love. More often than not it seems we are quick to accept restrictions and slow to persevere.

A 97 year old man is proving no obstacle – even blindness – needs to stop a pursuit of dreams. You are never too old to put art at the heart.

Who is “The Pixel Painter”

Hal Lasko suffers from wet macular degeneration. This type of visual impairment is age-related. The disease prohibits Hal from seeing fine detail. In fact, his vision has deteriorated to such a level that he is considered legally blind. Even though age-related macular degeneration causes trouble seeing straight ahead, Hal pursues artistic activities.

In his professional career, Hal Lasko was a type designer; an artist who created fonts. This allowed him to turn his attention to digital art. At that time, he did not know that a computer would later become his preferred medium for artwork.

Interestingly enough, there are no secrets or intricacies to the computer tool he uses to produce art. Hal uses one of the simplest apps: Microsoft Paint. On this program, Hal is able to enlarge portions of his design so he can see what he is doing.

It took him months to make the switch from brush to computer screen, but now he spends several hours a day creating detailed artwork. He creates beautiful landscapes with a digital look; they are beautiful and inspirational in unique ways.

Hal turns 98 this year. In honor of his birthday, all original work is available on http://www.hallasko.com/. Each piece is appropriately priced at $98.

To promote this special sale and chronicle the story of an artist, follow this link and watch Hal Lasko’s video interview: http://www.today.com/tech/legally-blind-97-year-old-makes-masterpieces-simple-paint-app-6C10732493.

Read more Segmation blog posts about Art and Disabilities:

Art Therapy Treats more than the Heart

How to turn your Passion into Profit

Art Beneath Your Feet

Be an Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC

Segmation

FREE Newsletter

Join us on FacebookSegPlay® Mobile iTunes now available for iPhone and iPad

www.segmation.com

School art programs fall victim to tight budgets. For years, it has been evident that art classes and extracurricular activities suffer because of budget shortages in the education system. Schools strive to meet state and national standards and, as a result, art programs get left behind.

Recognizing its importance, many teachers and parents see to it that art remains a utilized teaching tool in and out of the classroom. Reviving art education is possible, but to fulfill this need, a new approach is required. Reviving art as the heart of education begins in the family and continues in the classroom.

Art Programs Fall Victim to Tight Budgets

In addition to attendance and enrollment, funding for schools relies on teaching, tests, and other measurables. Art cannot be graded this way. As a result, art programs, which produce numerous benefits for developing minds, are not supported by the current education system.

Art as a Teaching Tool

Some schools and districts work hard to preserve art programs. These schools value the fact that art can be used, not only for expression, but as a teaching tool. Many subjects are better taught with an element of creativity; this brings facts to life, makes information stick, and encourages kids to think beyond the learning structure that controls education.

Art at Home

Like all subjects, art isn’t limited to the classroom and it should not be confined to the four walls of a school house. Creativity works to define who we are, what we value and how we exist in the world around us. Art is found in unlikely places when we choose to make art a part of our everyday lives.

Ultimately, facts, figures, concepts, and information are all empty without the element of creativity. It is important to have opportunities to connect with what we see, hear, and learn in meaningful ways. This happens best through creative expression.

Is art a big part of your life? How can you make art a bigger part of your life? How can you encourage children to be creative learners, and how can a creative approach to education enhance the learning experience?

Read more Segmation Blog Posts about Art Education:

Art and Science – A Genius Combination

Is Art Education Necessary?

How Well Do You Know The Color Wheel?

Be an Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC (see more details below)

Segmation