by Kate Johnston

Very early in my life, I discovered I could express myself better in writing than in telling people. I could use my writing to explain my hearing loss. I came to think of myself as a writer. I grew up in a home that discouraged creativity, but my writing was accepted.

In the winter of 2012, I took a beginning art class just for fun. I knew I couldn’t draw. Heck, I couldn’t even draw a straight line. I attributed that to my cerebral palsy.

The teacher had varied assignments to keep us all interested. At the back of the room, she placed the best artworks on a large board for all of us to see. One morning, I came in and saw my drawing on the board. I was amazed. How could that be? I still couldn’t draw a straight line! (And the teacher didn’t like students using rulers.)  No matter. Realizing that I could indeed draw, I was motivated to keep going. My teachers and fellow students were telling me I had talent. Really? Me?

I signed up for more art classes. The community college I’d chosen was so supportive! I had whatever accommodations I needed. Interpreters? Check. CART? Check. An occasional laptop? Check. To my amazement, I was getting straight A’s for the first time in my life.

As the main caregiver for my son with severe autism, I had to schedule my classes around his schedule, so my progress was slow. I took one or two classes at a time. I already had a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from many years ago, but this was more fun. Though it took me thirteen years, I now have two AA degrees (Design and Illustration) and a BA in Illustration. I’m an artist now! (I’ve given myself permission to use a ruler if I need to draw a straight line.)

An early assignment years ago was to paint a self-portrait. Back then, I didn’t feel confident enough to draw and paint a portrait that looked like me, or anyone else, for that matter. To fulfill the assignment, I spent some time thinking about myself. I know some people with hearing loss feel their hearing losses don’t define them, but I think differently. Having been born with hearing loss, I spend my life making sure I can hear. I bring people into quiet, well-lit areas so I can talk to them. I make sure I sit in the most advantageous places to lipread. In just as many ways, my hearing loss does not define me, though it influences who I am.

For my self-portrait, I developed the concept of a large ear representing a head and an earring consisting of my head. This has become one of my themes, and I’ve revisited it many times.

Drawing has become a way of life for me. I’m constantly looking around, thinking of what I want to say and how I want to say it with my art. I feel like I can’t not create.

Now, I call myself a visual artist and writer, with type, line, shape, color, and texture to my creative repertoire. This is how I communicate with the world.

About the author

Kate Johnston was born and grew up as a “Valley Girl” of Los Angeles, with a severe hearing loss and cerebral palsy. Her family discouraged her creativity, and she thought she couldn’t draw. Now, she is a writer and a visual artist, using line, shape, color, texture, and text in her creative repertoire. Her interests lie in color pencils, watercolors, and printmaking, especially monoprints. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, which inspires her daily. Her art expresses her emotions about living as a person with a disability.

Visit her website here: Kate Johnston.