WA artist uses one hand and his wheelchair to create abstract paintings
That was when it was brought home that actually this could be an outlet for Colin,
A West Australian artist who lives with cerebral palsy has caught the attention of art curators across the state. Colin Hanssen, 31, combines painting with performance to express his lived experience.
On a quiet country road on Western Australia's south coast, Colin Hanssen is wrapping up his first exhibition. Despite being a newcomer to the world of painting, there's been plenty to see on the walls, and floor, of the artist's rural Albany studio.
For Hanssen, who was born with cerebral palsy and is largely non-verbal, art has become a vital form of self expression. The 31-year-old uses his wheelchair and right hand to blend colourful and earthy tones, combining performance with paint to create his abstract pieces.
Discovering a unique skill
His mother Wendy Hanssen said the unique skill was realised just six months ago in an art therapy class.