Weird question - visual impairments

Hey all!

So...is anyone here blind in one eye? I am, and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me, because as someone with no depth perception (can only see in 2-D), I find it difficult to judge the exact moment when my brush is going to hit skin. Because of this, I sometimes either get the shakes (argh!) or go down a little too heavily, resulting in too broad a stroke.

I'll get the hang of it eventually, I'm sure. But I was just wondering if anyone else has a visual impairment and could tell me any tips they found useful?

Thanks in advance,

Kammy x

I don't have this problem, but I think it might help you to use your pinky finger on their face before you put your brush down. It will steady your hand and give you a point of reference for where the "landing spot" is.

I'm doing that, Perry, and it is helping (so it was good advice), but I still find this particular aspect of painting a bit troublesome.

I had some problems applying my own make up for years too but eventually learned to get around the issues (I pretty much do eyeliner on my seeing eye by touch, these days), so I'm sure I'll get used to it in face painting too. I just figured there's so much experience on the forums, someone might have some wisdom to share with a fellow Cyclops.

Wow, kudos to you for even trying this sort of business. If I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn't even consider it! Good for you for not letting your limitation define what you are willing to try.

debranewmanart - I was told I'd never ride a bike, skate, be able to play ball games and would be late walking.

Proved the docs wrong on all of the above. Don't intend to stop now.

Two eyes are just a luxury.

humm...I have really no good ideas, but just practice. Like you said your own make up was difficult--but you eventually learned to get around it.

Keep it up and way to go!

The only thing I could add to Perry's advice is to REALLY focus on the tip of the brush (Mark Reid tip). I'm trying to do that myself as well as look where I want the stroke to flow (Wolfe brothers). Seems to help lots.

In the end, like doing your own makeup, you'll find that muscle memory will kick in. It's just practice practice practice. "Where is the brush tip when my pinky is on the face" etc.

If it helps, even the two-eyed, 3d-seeing folk have trouble with positioning brushes for nice linework at first. You're doing fine.

Thanks for all the reassurance, people - I really appreciate it. I guess I'll just do what everyone here does, and practice-practice-practice until I start to get it right.

I'm a stubborn old mule when I decide to do something.

Hope life's treating all of you well right now,

Kammy x

Hi - I was born with crossed eyes and so had surgery at 4 years of age....worn thick glasses ever since. My eyes " function" but not in unision so I too, like you, have monocular vision and no depth perception. This has also resulted in a "lazy" or drifting eye which makes it appear as though I am not looking at people and staring off into space...it is extremely disturbing to have some one I am speaking to, look behind themselves and look back at me and ask, "are u looking at me". Anyway this created such a personal problem for me I had another eye surgery to try to realign my eyeballs, $6000 later (that's just my co-pay) my eyes still drift and lead to embarrassment. Oh well,....that's my story. Now, to answer your question: I find that I have to get rather close to the customer to paint them, to just see the work clearly and to get the angle right for seeing the brush tip land on the skin. I find the hardest part is when I try to black outline with a fine round brush. I have been much more successful using a flat (square tip) or filbert for edging. Maybe this will help. I also find using split and rainbow cakes alot easier then individual colors and blending with sponges... Good luck! Smile

Thanks so much, aussiemarie - that's exactly the sort of information and experience I was looking for. I had the same surgery as you when I was 4, incidentally, because my blind eye was very lazy, having nothing to focus on. With me it was for cosmetic reasons, though, as there's nothing they can do for the blindness. It never bothers me, except when I encounter specific problems like this that I have to work around and find solutions for.

Thanks again for sharing your tips with another monocular type! Muchly appreciated.

Kammy x