Living Paintings, a three-decade-old organization, brings art to life for blind and visually impaired individuals through interactive books. The process of creating these unique books is both laborious and rewarding, as we journey through the steps of converting a regular two-dimensional book into a tactile masterpiece.
Creating the Mold
In his personal workshop, 88-year old Len Webb, an experienced set designer turned volunteer, painstakingly carves the sea creatures from Julia Donaldson’s picture book, Tiddler, into tactile forms. Having lent his skills to Living Paintings for over two decades, Webb’s meticulous work is a crucial part of the process.
Steering the Ship
Camilla Oldland, the CEO of Living Paintings, along with Communications Head Nick Ford, believe strongly in the importance of making books accessible to everyone. The enjoyment one experiences when reading a book to a child should not be exclusive to those with sight.
Initial Drafts
The adaptation of Under the Love Umbrella by Davina Bell is currently underway as the original illustrations are transformed into tactile line drawings. This project is made possible by fundraising efforts of Lucy Mellon-Jameson, whose son Jude, a victim of neuroblastoma, loved this book. Living Paintings’ version will allow blind and visually impaired children to experience it through touch and sound.
Final Touches
Webb employs fine sandpaper to smooth the carvings, ensuring they are easy for visually impaired readers to understand. Once the master artwork is complete, it’s reproduced with a Thermopress machine and pressed into heated plastic. Approximately 35 copies of each book are then added to the Living Paintings library, which is freely accessible to all.
Team Effort
After the imprinting process, dedicated volunteers apply several coats of paint to each copy. The team comprises over 120 individuals, including carvers, painters, Braille proofreaders, scriptwriters, and test readers from the blind and visually impaired community.
Bringing Joy to Life
Despite being specifically designed for blind and visually impaired children, the books are colored for shared enjoyment. The possession of such uniquely crafted, vibrant books often helps visually impaired children feel included and facilitates their interaction with peers.
The Final Product
A fully adapted book, like Tiddler’s tactile version, takes about six months to complete, from securing publisher permissions to hitting the library shelves. The books also include an audio component to guide readers over the raised pictures, helping them form a mental image. Famous personalities like Dame Joanna Lumley, Sir Derek Jacobi, and radio host Greg James have lent their voices to these Living Painting books.
