Vision-impaired artist’s drawings brighten hospital ward

ABC NEWS (Australia)

As Chris Vines battles the side effects of surviving cancer three times, including losing his sight, and permanent kidney damage, the sketch artist is using his lifelong passion to bring joy to others.

Transcript

00:00Three times a week, Chris Vines attends Harvey Bay Hospital for dialysis treatment.

00:08Very happy with being alive. It's good. Wonderful.

00:12Years of chemotherapy have damaged the 81-year-old's kidneys and also left him vision impaired.

00:19I concentrate on the drawing and it takes my mind off all my problems.

00:24His artistic talents have also become a welcome distraction for other patients and staff.

00:30He goes to the copier and gets them printed on the nicest paper that he can find

00:34and then brings him these little secret envelopes and drops them at the desk and doesn't say anything.

00:38From outback landscapes to iconic Aussie birds, the requests kept coming.

00:44Kookaburras and things like that, I don't need a picture, I can just draw it straight on.

00:49His art is a way to bring people together.

00:52Having a creative outlet, it's not just about participating and connecting with others,

00:57but it is sharing those interests.

00:59And to have a little bit of light relief every now and then in such a heavy space is great for them

01:04and it's great for the staff too.

01:06I'd rather give my way to people and make people happy.

Category

Transcript

Recommended