Painting With Earl

The first time I painted with Earl, I was scared and nervous. Meeting a new person and walking blindly into this process was nerve-racking. I was scared to ask questions and communication was difficult. A year later, my painting sessions with Earl are like a well-practiced dance set to his eclectic music taste. We tease and joke with each other while he creates his art. Earl Johnson is a quadriplegic veteran with a knack for art. He paints with his mouth and I am his assistant. For many paralyzed veterans, keeping active physically and socially can be challenging. This is where Shawna Hill comes in. Shawna Hill is the lead recreational therapist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto. Her job is to find unique ways to recuperate injured veterans and help them lead fulfilling, healthy lives. This includes leading our local veterans in the wheelchair games, managing athletics for veterans and patients, or inventing little activities that are largely therapeutic like arranging the branches on a miniature Christmas tree. She introduced me to Earl and some equipment to help him paint last August and we have been painting weekly ever since. Since we have started painting, Earl has created two paintings: a natural landscape and a Picasso-inspired portrait. Earl’s time as an engineer in the navy shows in his art. His approach to painting is very precise, as he is a perfectionist to his core. The results of this effort and precision are stunning paintings with countless features to study. His dedication to pursuing his vision for paintings had led him to first place in the California VA Veteran Creative Arts competition and a nomination for the national competition. Earl’s story is one of perseverance and creativity, fueled by a positive outlook on life. One of the most important things paralyzed veterans need is perseverance to problem solve. Finding adaptations for playing sports, making art, creating music, and other hobbies is the key to the health of paralyzed veterans which is why the work of recreational therapists like Shawna Hill is so essential. I have been grateful to help with this process and learn about its importance for veterans like Earl and I am excited to see what Earl paints next.