Andrew Bloomfield

Andrew Bloomfield with Heidi Klaming of Guelph
I live with complex health and neurodevelopmental challenges including autism and epilepsy. As I cannot speak with my voice, I use computers to express my thoughts and feelings in prose and poetry. I have been painting seriously since 2009, usually with acrylics on canvas. First I compose my thoughts and images in poetry. Then my art mentor Heidi and I collaborate to choose and combine the colours, forms and textures for a painting. Heidi stabilizes my painting arm.
“My words are a painting and my paintings show my words in colour and form.”
I have also pioneered some creative innovations to improve the lives of other people who live with disability, including the Bridges-Over-Barriers communication group as well as Aroha circles of friends. In 2014, Karen Farbridge honoured me with a special Guelph Mayor’s Award for being a difference-maker.