Known and suspected colorblind artists – a list

Known and Suspected! That makes us sound sinister, doesn’t it?

Here is a listing of some artists who are colorblind—gleaned from a few days research on the Internet. It is admittedly a limited list for several reasons. First, the short amount of time I did the research in. Second, the list is, for the most part, limited to artists willing to admit that they are colorblind. Third, I have restricted the list to artists with a web presence so you can see their art.

This listing is for all those colorblind people interested in art and wondering how (or if) they can fit into the world of art. I was once in that same situation.

I did not plan on becoming an artist. In fact, after realizing in high school that I was partially colorblind, I shied away from any activity that might involve using color. I stumbled into art during college, taking an introductory art class and enjoying it immensely. I realized that the process of art was in a way, much like the process of science—a system to view and explore the world.

I was hooked on art and could not give it up. However, I still wondered if I could make it as a colorblind artist. This was 40 years ago and I felt like I must be the only person struggling with this issue. I did not realize that colorblind people have been working in the arts for—well probably as long as there has been art.

This list mostly includes living artists. I have also listed some deceased artists known and suspected to have been colorblind. A word of caution though—much of the evidence for a deceased artist having been colorblind is circumstantial, usually based on their use of a restricted color palette. However, there are other reasons for using restricted color palettes besides colorblindness. I think the point to take away is that any artist can be successful using a restricted palette.

Anyway, for what it is worth, here is the list:

Saeed Akhtar (1938-) Contemporary Pakastani figurative painter, instructor at National Arts College in Lahore, Pakistan

   http://artocraft.blogspot.com/2010/09/saeed-akhtar-michelangelo-of-pakistan.html

Caesar D. Alzate Jr. – Contemporary California artist, works primarily as a caricature artist.

   http://www.zhibit.org/caesar_alzate_jr

Wayne Ashworth – Contemporary English illustrator and painter

   http://www.wayneashworthart.co.uk/index.html

Arthur Burdett Frost (1851-1928) — American illustrator and painter. Known to be colorblind.

   http://www.jewelriverart.com/category/bierstadt.arthurburdettfrost/

John Lindley Byrne (1950-), British-born Canadian American comic book author and artist. Has worked on some of most iconic superhero series such as X-men and Hellboy.

   http://www.comicvine.com/john-byrne/26-1770/

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) – French Post-Impressionist painter. Diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 51 and probably developed diabetic retinopathy, which can cause red-/green colorblindness.

   http://www.psych.ucalgary.ca/pace/va-lab/avde-website/cezanne.html

John Constable (1776-1837) – English landscape painter. Suspected of being colorblind.

   http://www.john-constable.org/

David M. Cook — contemporary NYC graphic artist

   http://dmcook.carbonmade.com/

Royce Deans – Contemporary Michigan abstract and figurative painter

   http://www.roycedeans.com/Home/

Ethan Findley Diehl (1927- ) – Contemporary Texas figurative painter

   http://www.ethandiehl.com/

Frank Dunne (1898-1936) – Australian cartoonist and illustrator. Known to have been colorblind.

   http://daaouat.library.unsw.edu.au:81/main/read/2336

Tony Garner – Contemporary English landscape painter

   http://www.artistsafloat.co.uk/

Jamie Hayes – Contemporary New Orleans illustrator and painter

   http://www.jamiehayes.com/

Justin Heller – Contemporary New Jersey abstract painter

   http://www.hellerstudios.com/artwork.html

Ferdinand Leger (1881-1955) – French Cubist and Modernist painter. Suspected of being colorblind.

   http://www.theartstory.org/artist-leger-fernand.htm

Tennessee Loveless — Contemporary California Pop/Op artist

   http://tennesseeloveless.com/

Paul Manship (1886-1966)–American Art Deco sculptor, Known to be colorblind.

   http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/manship_paul.html

Charles Meryon (1821-1868) — French printmaker. Known to be red/green colorblind

   http://www.ralf-dahm.com/index.php?id=44

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) – Dutch abstract painter. Suspected of being colorblind.

   http://www.theartstory.org/artist-mondrian-piet.htm

Clifton Ernest Pugh (1924–1990) – Australian landscape and figurative artist. Known to have been colorblind.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Pugh

Lloyd Rees (1895-1988) – Australian landscape painter, suspected of being colorblind

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Rees

Greg Schwab – Contemporary Lousianna wildlife and landscape painter

   http://www.gregschwabart.com/

Christopher Smart – Contemporary Florida marine painter

   http://www.luckyink.com/

Nick G. Smith – Contemporary Texas watercolor and landscape painter

   http://www.nickgswift.com/

Aaron Sutton – Contemporary Florida landscape painter

   http://aaronsutton.com/

Mark Teel – contemporary Kansas comic book artist and art teacher

   http://mwteel.com/

Albert Uderzo (1927-) – Contemprary French illustrator of Asterix comics.

   http://www.asterix.com/encyclopedia/the-authors/albert-uderzo.html

Martha Weston (1947-2003) – California illustrator, illustrated over 60 children’s books

   http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/09/06/BA283192.DTL

If you know of any other colorblind artists that should be on my list let me know.