"Cape May Boat Yard" illustrates George Johnson's talent for conveying complex, natural lighting.

According to some artists with works in the MDA Art Collection, the answer is simple: any way they can.

Velcro, duct tape, armrests, mouth painting and modified easels are just a sample of adaptive tools and techniques that are used by some artists with disabilities.

In this article, we meet four artists who have works in MDA's Art Collec-tion, and examine the methods they use and the role that art and creativity play in their lives. Some have adapted traditional methods for painting or drawing, while others have invented new methods and tools from scratch.

George Johnson    Gay, W.Va.

Although George Johnson's life has been immeasurably altered by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), the disease has also given him an opportunity to return to one of his first loves: art.

George Johnson

Johnson, who received a diagnosis of ALS seven years ago, studied advertising art and worked in creative fields for much of his life. His jobs included overseeing store designs and displays for large retail companies and department stores, as well as owning a design and promotion company. Later, in order to spend time with his family, he became an air heating and cooling technician, a job he held until complications of ALS led to his retirement.

That led him back to painting, in which he has found new joy as the disease has affected his abilities.

"This may sound strange, but in my whole life, this time has been one of the most rewarding for me. I worked hard in bringing up my children and the family, without a thought for myself," said Johnson, who, with his wife, Karen, has eight children and 16 grandchildren. Johnson, 57, specializes in "real pictures of real places," such as seascapes and nature scenes, with images ranging from a tranquil lighthouse to a shimmering farm field at sunset. His works are often highlighted by a skillful use of color to convey natural lighting.

When he was no longer able to hold his arm steady, Johnson invented a shelf - a gadget he describes as "the best thing since peanut butter" - to support his arms. The shelf connects to the stretched canvas frame on two sides, and can be attached to an easel.

"A turn of a wing nut and there you are: a support shelf you can rest your two arms on, with your hands free to paint the most beautiful picture that you have ever done," Johnson said of the device he'd someday like to market.

Johnson said he works mostly with acrylic paints, with which an artist can achieve a look similar to that of oil paints, but acrylics dry much faster.

Other tricks that Johnson offers include using a credit card as a straight edge for applying paint for fine lines for trees, telephone poles, windows and other details.

"Spread the paint on the palette in a water consistency. Then dab the credit card in the paint and apply it to the surface of the picture," Johnson said. Bend the card slightly, and you can "create weeds that have been caught by the breezes coming off the ocean."

Another method involves layering, dipping and scraping. For instance, to paint rocks, Johnson applies acry-lics in different wash tones of gray by dipping rolled up paper in various shapes, then dabbing and scraping it on the canvas. This way of layering paint creates a unique effect, and "after a few tries you can create your own technique," Johnson said.

Johnson also devotes much of his spare time to community projects in his hometown, teaches art part time, writes poetry and spends countless hours on his computer. He's begun marketing his art on his Web site, http://artbyburris.homestead.com.

Dan Beacome   Alma, Mich.

For Dan Beacome, an artist who paints with his mouth, the textures and wood grains make old barns his favorite subject. Photos by Ray Malace.

Art opened the door to a new world of friends and creativity for Dan Beacome, and unleashed a previously untapped talent he'd never had the time to cultivate. Previously he'd been a millwright for Ford Motor Co.

Beacome, 50, began creating artwork 13 years ago when he moved into a Masonic home and picked painting as an activity he'd like to learn.

Painting, that is, with his mouth. ALS has weakened his arms to the point that he's unable to paint using his arms and hands, so Beacome holds his paintbrushes with his teeth.

Beacome's recent favorite subject is old barns, and he especially enjoys recreating the textures of the weathered woods. He lives in the middle of farm country, and friends often bring him pictures of their barns to paint.

Dan Beacome

While many would consider mouth painting an adaptive art technique itself, Beacome has still had to experiment with many methods and tools. And, in 13 years of painting, he's experienced just about every mishap possible, which is why his primary tip for artists with weak arms is to place yourself on a washable surface.

"I put a big piece of Plexiglas down below my chair, because no matter how careful you are - and, yes, even someone who is able to walk and use their hands - you're going to spill paint. You're going to have to prepare for that," Beacome said. He added that he uses acrylics be-cause they are easy to clean up.

Beacome works on an elevated tabletop that enables him to get in close with short paintbrushes. His first table was set on cinder blocks, but he and a carpenter friend have built one with 2-by-4-inch wooden legs cut to an ideal height for Beacome's chair. Then, he used duct tape to secure the tabletop to the legs and to prevent the top from moving when he paints.

Along the way, Beacome said, he discovered he's "left-mouthed," just as he's left-handed, meaning he has better control when working with the left side of his mouth. He also found that Velcro and duct tape can be useful in many ways.

He's used many different objects in his artistic efforts, including aluminum arrows and dowel rods attached to his paintbrushes to make them the most convenient length. He also coats the ends of his paintbrushes with a rubberlike substance so he can't bite through them. "I'm always looking for things I can use in different ways from what they were de-signed for," Beacome said.

Beacome said he was inspired by an artist friend with ALS who also lived in the Masonic home. When she lost the use of her arms and torso, she had an assistant to hold the paper and move it according to her directions.

Beginning artists should get a tabletop easel, a starter kit of paints, and a good instruction book or video. Beacome said he'd enjoy corresponding and networking with other artists via e-mail at beacome@cmsinter.net.

Spiritually and even physically, art has changed his life, Beacome said "Oh, it's opened my world. I've made a lot of new friends from people who've admired my artwork and stopped in to see me, to chat," he said.

"I guess when I'm painting, I don't have any aches and pains. I'm in another world."

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