Karen Wheeler
American artist with spinal muscular atrophy known for layering technique.
Karen Sue Wheeler is an American artist born with spinal muscular atrophy, a neurodegenerative condition causing muscle wasting. She is known for a painting technique called layering that resembles colored pencil, with each work taking between 150 and 500 hours to complete.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1955
- Birthplace
- Winfield, Kansas
- Occupation
- Artist
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Wheeler is the middle of three children.
- Her parents were told she would not live beyond a year old.
- She started creating art at age 5 because she was unable to play outside.
Career
Wheeler developed a sling-like device worn on her arm to assist in wielding tools such as brushes, pencils, or pens. She uses a small brush with very little pigment to create a dry-brush effect called layering that resembles colored pencil. Each painting takes from 150 to 500 hours. She served on the Board of Directors of Very Special Arts California from 1985 to 1992 and is now an honorary board member. In 1990, the Pilot Club of Southeast Los Angeles selected her as Disabled Professional Woman of the Year. Since 2003, she has been a board member of the Vegas Artists Guild, serving two terms as president and acting as Director of Vegas Artists Guild in charge of Shows until September 2012. In April 2012, Wheeler and business partner William Schnell co-created GoHitYourself.com to educate persons with disabilities and illuminate their situations for able-bodied people. In 2014, they rebranded and merged the site with Wheeler's personal site, formerly at KarenWheeler.com, where her art and stories about living with a disability were profiled.
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