For these artists, creating often entails touch or imagination. Some hold onto limited vision and use colours and patterns they can still see; others use a more tactile approach. 



In the 17th annual ‘Insights 2006’, held in San Francisco (U.S.) held last month, 100 art works by 35 visually impaired or blind artists portrayed art's ability to build inspiration from the heart. 



"I don't see (the paintings) very well," said Knepper Doyle, one of the participants. "But somehow the colours become more vivid." Doyle uses 'impressionistic abstraction' in her art, incorporating ideas or images from her older works into acrylics and collages. The exhibit included paintings, sculptures, photography and other intricate forms of art. Since each artist used a different method to create artwork, every piece had a story to tell. 



Doyle believes exhibits such as Insights are important because, "they give people who don't see very well a chance to show their work."



Certainly, visual art is not about seeing alone. For those who may have lost hope in expressing themselves, Insights is an inspiration.



The exhibition was held at ‘Light House for the Blind and Visually Impaired’ (San Francisco).