Inspirational Artist

Artists are drawn to their craft for many reasons. For Dallas-based artist Desmond Blair, a life in art today can be traced back to the need to solve a challenging problem early in life.

“It literally came out of us trying to solve a problem, me being able to write so I could start school,” he said.

Blair was born without hands, but found he had two other important things – a family determined not to let him find excuses but solutions, and a personal drive to overcome any challenge.

Blair inspires every time he puts brush to canvas, reminding himself and anyone that anything is possible.

“I’ve always seen my art as a way to encourage people to challenge themselves, and not just people with limb differences, but I feel like that was my challenge for myself,” he said. “I see each piece that I do is a challenge, so I learn something new from each painting I do and when I meet people if they see my art, my hope is that encourages them to get out and try something they may not be comfortable with.”

Difference is the term he chooses over disability because he believes no matter the circumstance, people have a choice.

“I’ve never thought of myself as being disabled because to me disability is always a choice,” Blair said. “The moment you quit or decide you can’t do something, for me, that was always the moment I would be disabling myself.”     

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