Wheelchair Painting: What Is It?

At first, when you hear the term wheelchair painting, your mind might come up with the traditional painting. You would think of you, sitting in your wheelchair, with an easel and paints, painting on canvas. While people paint this way, and it is pretty neat, wheelchair painting is actually something totally different.

What Is Wheelchair Painting?

In simple language, wheelchair painting is painting by dipping your wheelchair’s wheels in washable paint and rolling across a canvas to create an outstanding design. You can use a paint roller to roll paint on the canvas and then drive through it. Moreover, you can paint the wheels into different colors with a paintbrush then move them across your canvas.

Often referred to as wheelchair action art, this kind of painting turns out unique for not only the involved artist but also the individual wheelchair. There are actually great expos that feature the work of multiple wheelchair artists.

This kind of painting is ideal for wheelchair users who have limited use of their hands; it is way better than using a mouth brush. Others might paint with a mouth brush, but it can be physically engaging. While painting with your wheelchair may not produce the best and most precise painting, it can elicit a feeling of freedom. This type of painting is entertaining for children who cannot paint traditionally.

Finding Your Creative Niche Through Wheelchair Painting

Wheelchair painting is definitely not everybody’s cup of tea. However, many have found their creative voice through it. A good example is Tommy Hollenstein, an artist who was pushed into a wheelchair through a mountain bike accident. He could no longer pursue his art like before, but this type of painting gave him a lifeline.

After his accident, Tommy gave up on his art, but he got the idea to paint with his dog’s paws and his chair’s tracks, side by side. This propelled him to the top of the wheelchair painting world, and over the years he has sold hundreds of his artwork across the globe.

To get started, you can contact a local area gallery and see if you can rent some space, especially if you do not have enough space at home. Moreover, if you have a connected team of wheelchair users in your neighborhood, you can start your own recreational classes and inspire a local gallery to start offering classes.

The whole wheelchair painting is a therapeutic experience that comes with some benefits, including expressing yourself creatively. It is an ideal way to empower yourself with your abilities.

Awesome Videos

There are lots of incredible YouTube videos with demonstrations of how to paint with your wheelchair. In one video, a young man paints without sitting on the chair but rather by sitting on the nearby ground and observing the canvas.

In another video, children in regular and electric wheelchairs paint together. Some use syringes to squirt paint all over the canvas for fun after they are done painting.

You can also check out another incredible video of an intergenerational group that uses other mediums to complete their arts.

If you are a wheelchair painting enthusiast, you can sign up for the wheelchair painting Expo in the USA or Canada. This is a huge event that uses over 50 gallons of paint in three days to pull off unique artwork.