Art & Creative Writing
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Introduction
Art & Creative Writing are both great hobbies because, they are not only enjoyable, but also a form of therapy, a form of escapism and can also be a way to make money. Creative Writing does not cost anything, except an initial outlay if you need a computer and don't have one. Many of the hobbies that are considered Art are relatively inexpensive, but may cost a bit to get started. Some people with severe Hearing Impairments often feel that they are trapped and learn to express themselves through art. A Hearing Impairment does not effect a persons ability to create Art & Creative Writing.
Other benefits of Art & Creative Writing include:
- helps an individual regain a feeling of self worth - they feel that they can create something and can experience the joy of creating their own art.
- is a good way to educate others, how people with disabilities, who cannot hear or may not be able to talk can create something beautiful with their hands.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature. Both fictional and non-fictional works fall into this category, including such forms as novels, biographies, short stories, and poems.
There are also inspirational people out there, who are Hearing Impaired and have written books on how they have dealt with their Hearing Impairment. Some of these people were famous before they lost their hearing, while others like Helen Adams Keller who became famous for her Creative writing.
Helen Keller was born with the ability to see and hear, but at 19 months old, she contracted an illness, which might have been scarlet fever or meningitis. The illness left her both deaf and blind. She became famous as an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. She has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and film The Miracle Worker. The Miracle Worker is a cycle of works derived from Helen Keller's autobiography The Story of My Life. Each of the various dramas describes the relationship between Helen and Anne Sullivan, the teacher who introduced her to education,
A prolific author, Keller was well-traveled and outspoken in her convictions. Helen proved to the world that Deaf people could all learn to communicate and that they could survive in the hearing world. She also taught that Deaf people are capable of doing things that hearing people can do. She is one of the most famous Deaf people in history and she is an idol to many Deaf people in the world.
These books are helpful and inspirational to others and can be therapeutic to the person writing the book.
Art
Many people with Hearing Impairments, turn to Art as a hobby. It often helps them to deal with their Hearing Impairment, is a form of escapism, helps them express themselves and experienced the joy of creating art. You may even be able to make some money from your Art. Art can include a number of activities such as:
Drawing and Painting offer a variety of different mediums to chose from, including: sketching, etching, water colours, Acrylic or Oils. If this type of art is new to you, you may need to experiment with different mediums and styles to find something that suites you and your subject matter.
Sculpturing is also very popular and also include a variety of different mediums to chose from, including: different types of clay sculpting and stone sculpturing. It may be best to start with clay sculpture, as this is normally easier. You may need to experiment with different tools and styles. Stone sculpturing takes more time and requires more effort.
Cartoons, Caricatures & Computer Art
Cartoons, Caricatures & Computer Art is another way that you can express yourself creatively and artistically. Creating cartoons, etc. can help you deal with your impairment and express your frustrations through art at some of the problems that you face due to your Hearing Impairment. Cartoons, Caricatures can be created using a pencil and paper, or with a computer. I use a program called Coral Draw to do my cartoons, but there are a variety of other typs of software, such as Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, etc. Many people also use a stylus pen. Visit "A Laugh at Life" to see some samples of these cartoons. The cartoons are mainly about Disability and lack of access. There are many other types of art that can be created on a Computer Art, you are only limited by your imagination.
Pottery, Wood Carving & Beadwork
Pottery, Wood Carving or Beadwork, also offer great benefits. Some Occupational Therapist strongly endorse beading, wood carving & pottery as an excellent leisure activity, which helps adults and promotes children's development in the following areas:
- Beadwork Improves Fine Motor Skills, like grasping various sizes of beads to promote different grasps.
- beading, wood carving & pottery improve In-hand manipulation skills: Many components of making a beaded craft increase strength and coordination in the small hand and finger muscles, while manipulating clay and working with a variety of tools to shape wood also increase strength and coordination in the hands.
- Visual Perceptual Skills in children: The child doing beading must remember the beading pattern and select the bead that fits their mental image of the desired bead. Finally, the child must scan across many different beads before finding the desired bead.
- Visual Motor Skills: Eye-Hand coordination: Threading beads onto a string involves bilateral coordination of the persons hands, and requires their eyes and hands to work together.
- Cognitive Skills: Like planning what to create from a block of wood, lump of clay, or what style of necklace a person would like? What pattern will they choose? What materials are needed to complete this beading activity? By answering these questions, the child develops his/her planning and problem-solving skills.
- Math Skills: How long will my necklace, bracelet, or keychain need to be? How many beads do I need to complete this project? How can I create and maintain this beading pattern? Encouraging children to think through these functional math problems is a motivating way to improve academic skills in this area.
- Social Skills: These hobbies can often be enjoyed in workshops or groups, so encourage socializing. Beading Parties promote sharing and cooperation, as children choose beads and complete their projects in a group setting.
Last but not least, these hobbies provide a sense of accomplishment in completing a project that offers freedom of self-expression and camaraderie with others. This sense of "Occupational Fulfillment" can contribute to improved self-esteem.
Earning a Living through Art & Creative Writing
Although Art & Creative Writing are hobbies, they can also be a way that you can earn money through commissions, or you can sell your art privately, at Flea markets, exhibitions, or through Web sites such as R.I.T / National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which is a Deaf Artists website. This site features over 40 Deaf and hard of hearing artists and numerous resources and materials.
Some people out there write poems or articles for magazines, for money, while some have written books about their lives and how they have dealt with their Hearing Impairment, such as Helen Keller who was left deaf & blind at 19 months old. She became famous as an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and film The Miracle Worker. The Miracle Worker is a cycle of works derived from Helen Keller's autobiography The Story of My Life. Each of the various dramas describes the relationship between Helen and Anne Sullivan, the teacher who introduced her to education,
Helen, through her work, proved to the world that Deaf people could all learn to communicate and that they could survive in the hearing world. She also taught that Deaf people are capable of doing things that hearing people can do. She is one of the most famous Deaf people in history and she is an idol to many Deaf people in the world. Her books and others like hers are helpful and inspirational to others and can be beneficial financially and therapeutic to the person writing the book.
References
