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Feeling the Force
Imagine having a career as a successful graphic designer and, in your spare time, being a watercolour artist. Then imagine going blind. That's exactly what happened to 33-year-old Paul Jorden just over two years ago when his eyesight began to fail and he was diagnosed with a Mitochondrial Myopathy.
"It's been a roller coaster ride, if you want the truth," says Paul, who used to count Linda McCartney foods and Virgin among his clients.'The hardest thing was giving up what I really enjoy."
The Mitochondrial Myopathy diagnosis came as a complete surprise as no one in Paul's family, including his identical twin, has the condition. Paul is now completely blind in one eye and has very limited vision in the other. He also experiences fatigue and muscle pain associated with his condition
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Inner Vision
But, despite these physical setbacks, Paul has been determined to continue with his art. And now, after 18 months of hard work, he has produced a special painting to celebrate the Star Wars films, which he is selling to raise money for muscular dystrophy charities But how on earth did he paint the picture with such limited vision? "It's very bizarre and hard to describe," he explains. "I can't switch off from art and design, even though I have difficulty expressing it. I don't really paint through my eyes any more, I co-ordinate what I see in my head. My wife is incredibly patient, and she guides me as I'm putting paint to paper. It's almost a guessing game but I have to be very precise with my paint at the same time."
Paul admits that the painting has been an important watershed for him, providing motivation and a sense of achievement."I needed to do it," he says."if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't be here today.' The painting also allowed him to combine his two great loves - art and Star Wars."My passion is Star Wars,"he laughs. "I have a room full from the films."
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Artistic License
Once the painting was complete, Paul began to think of how he could use it to raise money for muscular dystrophy. Realising that it would have more value for a buyer or collector if it were licensed by Lucasfilm (the company which produced the StarWars movies), he worked with licensing companies in the UK to approach the US organisation. Earlier this year, much to Paul's delight, they agreed to license the painting."! couldn't believe it when I got the phone call from Lucasfilm," he recalls.
"It was a bit of a shock but very exciting."
Now Paul has set up a charity to encourage others to donate their artwork and is selling limited editions of the print, with 90% of the proceeds being split equally between the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in the UK and the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the US. If all the prints are sold, Paul estimates he could raise up to £11,000 for each organisation. He is also hoping to exhibit the painting at forthcoming shows in Birmingham and auction a print signed by various Star Wars actors
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Moving Forward
The last two years have clearly been full of emotion for Paul. His wife found out she was pregnant the same week that he received his Mitochondrial Myopathy diagnosis.Their son, James, is now "a gorgeous little boy" and it's clear that Paul is determined to look forward to the future and make the most of his talent" If you think it's simple," he says."lf you just think I’ll give it a try', you will fail. If you think 'I will do it', then you'll succeed."
Paul is selling 1000 limited editions of his print for £25 each (+ £2.45 postage and packing for UK). Telephone/fax 01212422209.
To see the print in more detail visit his website
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Acknowledgements
This article first appeared in Target winter 2004, the magazine of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
Photographs courtesy of: |
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