PHOTOS: Legally Blind Painter Celebrates Americana, Tradition, and Faith Through His Art Since 1985

PHOTOS: Legally Blind Painter Celebrates Americana, Tradition, and Faith Through His Art Since 1985
(Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
11/25/2022
Updated:
11/25/2022

One of the most collected artists in the U.S. and Canada has a very unique story. He pursued his passion for painting despite being diagnosed as legally blind at the age of 6. Through faith and persistence, he has shared his personal vision in oil on canvas for over three decades and left an indelible mark on the art world.

Minnesota-born and bred, artist Jim Hansel, 62, lives in Chaska, Minnesota, with his wife, Lois, and his son and daughter. He’s worked as a professional painter since 1985 and has to date completed hundreds of versatile paintings celebrating Americana, nature, and wildlife. His soulful artwork gives viewers the feeling that they can actually step right into the painting and be a part of it.

“I don’t think of my vision issues as a disability, I like to think of it as discovering one’s abilities,” Hansel told The Epoch Times.

“Even from an early age, I knew I was an artist. I started with ‘paint by numbers’ and just kind of went from there. The first class I took, I was a freshman in high school. Even with my vision issues, it was something that I wanted to see if I could pursue.”

Hansel has been the subject of the Emmy award-winning documentary on his life and work, “Vision: Seeing Is Believing,” and continues to share his extraordinary art on his website. And his beloved wife of 30 years oversees the printing of the amazing artwork that has put his name on the map.
Jim Hansel works with the help of magnifiers to paint, and his favorite medium is oil on canvas. (Courtesy of <a href="https://vimeo.com/228714303">Creative Soul Video</a>)
Jim Hansel works with the help of magnifiers to paint, and his favorite medium is oil on canvas. (Courtesy of Creative Soul Video)
The "Home of the Brave" is inspired by the 9/11 event and has the glorious sky painted in stars and stripes. (Courtesy of <a href="https://vimeo.com/228714303">Creative Soul Video</a>)
The "Home of the Brave" is inspired by the 9/11 event and has the glorious sky painted in stars and stripes. (Courtesy of Creative Soul Video)
The full view of the painting "Home Of The Brave." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
The full view of the painting "Home Of The Brave." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Land of the Free": The artwork gives an aerial view of the clouds painted in the stars and stripes as the symbolic bald eagle sores high up in the sky. The artwork was created as a companion piece to “Home of the Brave." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Land of the Free": The artwork gives an aerial view of the clouds painted in the stars and stripes as the symbolic bald eagle sores high up in the sky. The artwork was created as a companion piece to “Home of the Brave." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)

Hansel grew up in a rural area where he could fish and hunt, back when his vision was better. Attending a local “Wildlife and Western” art show as a child planted the seed of a dream: someday, Hansel wanted to be in the art show, too.

At the age of 6, Hansel was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition called Stargardt disease, but he didn’t let his compromised vision dampen his dream. He pursued an education in art, attending the University of Minnesota for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, where he met his first critics.

“The type of work that I did, some of the instructors I had didn’t even consider it art work,” he explained. “They called it more ‘illustration,’ which I didn’t necessarily agree with ... I stopped taking the painting classes, I more or less was self-taught.”

Hansel tried acrylic and watercolor painting but returned to oil on canvas—the medium he loved most—honing his technique over time. While Hansel admits he is his own worst critic, the painting that he is most proud of is a patriotic piece titled, “Home of the Brave,” a tribute to America’s military, fire, and law enforcement, inspired by 9/11, that took ten months to complete.

Jim Hansel was diagnosed with Stargardt disease at the age of 6. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
Jim Hansel was diagnosed with Stargardt disease at the age of 6. (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
Hansel has produced over 200 limited edition prints and a calendar every year for the past 20 years. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
Hansel has produced over 200 limited edition prints and a calendar every year for the past 20 years. (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)

“I do my work with the help of magnifiers and technology,” Hansel said. “I guess ironically, as it evolved, my vision over time has gotten worse, as with the help of technology my work has gotten better.

“Even before I started, I had a good imagination. I could picture in my mind what I wanted it to look like. Over trial and error ... or even as time went by with cell phone cameras, I could take a picture of [my subject] and put it under my phone, under my magnifier, and see the entire image.

“Ironically, even with my vision, I do put a lot of detail. It’s usually layers, and there’s plenty of times I'll have a couple going at one time. I actually go to the hardware store, get 4-inch house painting brushes to do the sky, start overlaying, then go back, keep detailing and detailing and detailing.”

"Frozen Memories": The painting brings back childhood memories of playing on the snowy sledding hill. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Frozen Memories": The painting brings back childhood memories of playing on the snowy sledding hill. (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
The painting "Comforts of Home" depicts a serene private place where one wouldn't mind being oneself. (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
The painting "Comforts of Home" depicts a serene private place where one wouldn't mind being oneself. (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Woodland Friends." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Woodland Friends." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)

Hansel’s paintings are heavy in contrast between colors, lights, and darks, which the artist chalks down to his vision and personal style development. Representing nature’s glory and the traditional lifestyle is the most important thing for him.

Through his art, Hansel tries to convey the feelings that one gets from the times they spent growing up: the things one did as a kid, going to grandma’s house, or celebrating Christmas.

“I’ve always wanted to try and relate to the viewer. Whenever I painted something I wanted to almost put in a feeling of serenity, someplace I'd love to be right now,” Hansel said, crediting his favorite artists as Terry Redlin, a Midwestern artist with a similar style to his own, and Michelangelo, whose epic work he visited in the Sistine Chapel some years ago.

Hansel’s canvases range in size from 12 by 16 inches to around three by five feet, and he averaged five paintings a year throughout his career. He has produced over 200 limited edition prints, many of which raise money for wildlife and habitat conservation groups, and a calendar every year for the past 20 years.

"Field of Dreams." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Field of Dreams." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Cherished Memories." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Cherished Memories." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Days Not Forgotten." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Days Not Forgotten." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Homeward Bound Welcome." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Homeward Bound Welcome." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)

Back in 2016, Hansel’s right eye “took a turn for the worse,” literally overnight. He recalled going up to his studio to do some work and noticed “something wrong” with his eye.

“Everything just got very foggy,” he said. “I thought I was done painting, but long story short, people prayed for me, over me, with me. Within a few days, my vision came back to the point it was.

“I considered it my miracle. When that happened, I thought ‘Home of the Brave’ is the painting I’ve been putting off; now it’s my second chance.”

Hansel paints with the help of magnifiers and technology. (Courtesy of <a href="https://vimeo.com/228714303">Creative Soul Video</a>)
Hansel paints with the help of magnifiers and technology. (Courtesy of Creative Soul Video)
(Courtesy of <a href="https://vimeo.com/228714303">Creative Soul Video</a>)
(Courtesy of Creative Soul Video)
Hansel and his wife, Lois. (Courtesy of <a href="https://vimeo.com/228714303">Creative Soul Video</a>)
Hansel and his wife, Lois. (Courtesy of Creative Soul Video)

Within the last year, Hansel’s vision has deteriorated further, compromising his ability to perceive color. He has retired his brushes and now focuses on running his business.

“It was getting so challenging to do a painting that it was almost a relief, in a way, because it was getting to where it wasn’t as enjoyable anymore,” he said. “Well, the business is still there. It keeps me busy.”

Check out more of his artwork below:
"Good Old Days." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Good Old Days." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Kings Domain." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Kings Domain." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"A Road Less Traveled." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"A Road Less Traveled." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Autumn Fields." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Autumn Fields." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Evening With Friends." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Evening With Friends." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Faith Through The Ages." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Faith Through The Ages." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
"Over The River." (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.jimhanselart.com/">Jim Hansel</a>)
"Over The River." (Courtesy of Jim Hansel)
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Louise Chambers is a writer, born and raised in London, England. She covers inspiring news and human interest stories.
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