A Special Kind Of Artistic Vision

Granger from Making Great Art

Helen Keller said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision,” and for legally deaf and blind Kristen Granger who doesn’t see or hear the world like most people her vision is unforeseen beauty.

Granger may not see or hear very well but one thing she does know how to do very well may surprise people. “I love to paint! I was 9 years old living in Brenham when I did my first painting. I could tell right away that I loved it,” said Granger. “I found I love creating something to help out my moods when I’m feeling sad or frustrated.”

When she is painting the most thing affected by her vision loss is the different color shades. “Sometimes I’ll grab a gray thinking it’s black, or a dark pink thinking it’s red so I try to have my friend and side guide Jasmine Calvert look over it before it’s finished,” said Granger who has no specific favorite medium to use while she paints. “I use all kinds! Oil pastel, acrylic, colored pencils, watercolor, charcoal pencils, plaster, clay, etc.”

So what does Granger prefer to paint? “I paint a variety of things and I do take requests sometimes but I just love to wait until I see something that I want to do or inspires me then I just create it,” said like a true artist Granger just loves coming up with new ideas and seeing a finished project.

And not only does she paint she also loves making different kinds of crafts. “I make wreaths, dream catchers, and anything I see on Pinterest that looks cool. I also cut up t-shirts and style them in different ways. That’s mainly a summer thing but it’s fun to do and it turns a boring t-shirt into something original and cool,” said Granger.

She also continues to inspire people who see her paint and craft daily like Calvert and her family. “When I see Kristen paint, cut up shirts, and complete crafts it inspires me and my daughters to get busy creating things. We know that if she can do it with her poor vision, we can give it a try too,” said Calvert.

Granger who is 34 years old moved to La Grange a year ago to be closer to Calvert who is helping her live on her own. Calvert’s sister Heidi owns a company out of Katy that finds homes/families for DBMD (Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities) individuals like Granger. “Typically what happens is when these individuals age and their parents are no longer alive, they end up in group homes. So my sister’s company finds the right person and hires them as interveners for these DBMD adults,” said Calvert. “My job is to help Kristen live as independently as possible, helping her clean, cook, shop, do laundry, go to church, sell her artwork, have fun, and get out into the community. It’s a rewarding job but it is difficult at times to take care of an adult with multiple disabilities. All in all, I’m honored to care for another human being and be the reason she isn’t in a group home.”

Granger’s deafness and blindness started at birth. “I was adopted at birth and born in Corpus Christi. My mom, dad, and brother live in Waco. I have fetal alcohol syndrome. From what I know, my birth mother didn’t know she was pregnant with me, and what that looks like as an adult means that it sometimes takes me a while to understand things. My speech sometimes gets messed up and I can’t get out what I’m trying to say. It can be frustrating,” said Granger.

Along with fetal alcohol syndrome Granger has Ushers Syndrome Type 2, an inherited genetic disorder. “I am legally deaf and blind, although I have some vision and some hearing. I wear a hearing aid and have special glasses to improve my vision. I usually need a side guide outside or in dim lighting because my depth perception is bad,” said Granger. This syndrome means her vision will continue to decline and she will most likely become fully blind at some point in her life.

Granger describes how her vision has changed and will continue to change. “I used to see better when I was a teenager but it slowly has been declining. Last year before my cataract surgery I couldn’t see things far away. Everything was blurry except when I saw up close to do my artwork. That was my best vision when things were up really close to my face. Trying to see far away, in the sun, in darkness was and still is pretty much impossible. After my cataract surgery this spring I needed reading glasses to see up close, but I can focus better on people’s faces which helps me read lips. I still can’t see well in the sun or at night. I don’t have depth perception which means I can’t see steps or changes in elevation when I walk. I don’t like using that walking stick that you see fully blind people using so I ask Jasmine to be my side guide and hold my arm when I walk and tell me if there is something in my way.”

If you would like to buy any of Granger’s work you can visit her Facebook page ,“Cut Up and Paint by Kristen,” where she posts and sells her recent paintings and crafts. Prices range from $5 for small ones and up. You can also visit her some days at the farmer’s market on the square depending on the weather. “Some-

times we set up at the farmer’s market. It’s hard to see in the sunlight, so we didn’t go much this summer. I also can’t get my hearing aid wet, so we can’t go on rainy days,” Granger said.

While most people are too blinded and deaf to see and hear the beauty and uniqueness that surrounds them Granger on the other is fully able to see and hear the beauty that surrounds her all by sight and sound unseen and unheard.