Shouting in the Dark: My Journey Back to the Light

John Bramblitt makes his living as a visual artist. His works have been sold in over twenty different countries, and he’s received three Presidential Service awards for the art workshops he teaches. He’s painted portraits of skateboarder Tony Hawk and blues legend Pops Carter. He’s given talks about his art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and there has even been a documentary made about him. And . . . he’s blind. When Bramblitt was declared legally blind ten years ago due to complications with epilepsy, his hopes of becoming a creative writing teacher were shattered and he sunk into a deep depression. He felt disconnected from family and friends, alienated and alone. But then something amazing happened--he discovered painting. He learned to distinguish between different colored paints by feeling their textures with his fingers. He taught himself how to paint using raised lines to help him find his way around the canvas, and through something called haptic visualization, which enables him to "see" his subjects through touch. He now paints amazingly lifelike portraits of people he's never seen--including his wife and son. Shouting in the Dark is the story of Bramblitt's life, his journey navigating through this new territory of blindness, and how he ultimately rekindles his joy, passion, and relationships through art.

About the Author :
John Bramblitt is an artist living in Denton, Texas. His art has been sold in over twenty countries and he has appeared internationally in print, TV, and radio, including The New York Times, Psychology Today, the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, ABC and BBC Radio. His work has received critical recognition, including three Presidential Service Awards for his innovative art workshops, and he’s been the subject of the documentary short “Bramblitt”, which won the title of ‘Most Inspirational Video of 2008' from YouTube, among other awards.                 John has never had to ask for an art show—he has fielded hundreds of requests for them and has held over thirty shows in just the last few years. On average, John and his work are profiled in the press once every couple of weeks—on the local and state level, but also in the national and foreign press as well—he’s incredibly popular overseas, granting this book very strong foreign sales potential.                 While art was always a part of John’s life, it was not until he lost his sight in 2001 due to complications from epilepsy that he began to paint, and it was then that he says, “Art reshaped my life.” John’s paintings are intensely personal, and are mostly taken from real people and events in his life. John’s workshops are unique in the art world in that they not only span the gap between beginning and professional artists, but also include adaptive techniques for people with disabilities.                 In addition to his painting and art workshops, John is in talks to paint prominent NFL players for charity. He is also working on a book about haptic visualization (seeing through touch) and a book that instructs those with impairments—temporary or permanent—on how they can become artists. He also would like to author children’s books based on his artwork.

Review :
“In this beautifully written memoir, portrait artist John Bramblitt tells us why being blind doesn’t necessarily mean living in a world of darkness. His story is both inspirational and haunting, and readers will find themselves thinking about it long after the last page. It is one of those books you find yourself slowing down at the end just to make it last.”  —Homer Hickam, Author, Rocket Boys/October Sky   “Shouting in the Dark is an incredibly inspiring story of courage and a triumph over what could have been a tragedy.” —Sheryl Berk, co-author of Soul Surfer   “John’s talent for creating emotion through his use of color and texture in his paintings is evident. He successfully challenges people’s conceptions of blindness, ultimately finding that painting gives him a meaningful opportunity to connect to others.” —Governor Rick Perry