Paul Smith and typewriter art
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
Paul Smith was an artist who had cerebral palsy and used a typewriter to “draw.” Using a machine like a typewriter makes perfect sense when one has spasticity in one’s hands but thinking about how these drawings were made boggles the mind. Yes, typewriters used monofonts (typefaces where each letter was equal in width) so Paul could count the way a knitter counts columns and rows but still, the detail in his drawings is spectacular given the crudeness of his tools.
He made all of his drawings with these symbols (shifted number keys on a typewriter and computer):
@ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _
Here’s a better gallery of his typewriter art.
[via David Niemeijer]
I was amazed when someone sent me an email with some of Paul Smith’s typewriter art, because one of the pictures, The Old Mill, is actually a re-drawing of one my original pencil drawings. That certainly does not take away from the amazing gift of an otherwise physically limited individual. But it does make me wonder if any of Paul’s works are really original. I have written to those maintaining his website asking when and where Paul got a copy of my drawing. Honestly, I’m not offended. Rather, I am greatly flattered that he thought my work worth using as a model for his. I will gladly send a scan of my original to anyone interested. BroJCStevens@juno.com
Congratulations James, it must be nice to know that James found your work a good model for his.
I know there are many creative people in the world. Still, I am surprised that you can create art with a typewriter! Amazing! And appreciate your braveness and courage too.