MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Esref Armagan (born 1953) is a contemporary Turkish painter who has been completely blind since birth. He grew up poor and uneducated, and never had an art lesson, yet he paints detailed pictures in bright colors and 3-point perspective without assistance. For decades, Armagan was the subject of curiosity, awe, and skepticism in his native Turkey. Then in 2004, he became the subject of scientific brain studies in the United States. The astonishing results have been published in science journals, magazines, and newspapers around the globe. In 2008 the Discovery Channel aired a documentary which featured Armagan (and three others with extraordinary abilities) called The Real Superhumans. (Click link in right column to view video)

WRITING THIS BOOK: The Author's Journey

I discovered Esref Armagan quite by accident when an article about him popped up in an unrelated google search. It caught my eye, and I was immediately hooked. I knew I had to write a book and share his inspiring story with kids everywhere. How, I wondered, could a man paint things he has never seen? And why would he even want to paint pictures he'd never himself lay eyes on?

 After 18 months of research, interviews, and writing, I completed my picture book biography about this remarkable painter.  Painting in the Dark: The Story of Esref Armagan, Blind Artist, has been favorably reviewed by members of the Arts and Disabilities organizations, as well as national and international organizations for the blind. (Click here to read reviews). It was released in July 2016 by the award-winning children's educational publisher, Tumblehome Learning. **  Talented ILLUSTRATOR Claudia Gadotti is the artist for the book.

Armagan's fascinating story will be a valuable addition to both science and art curricula, and an inspiration to children with disabilities and those who care for them.     
(Click here to read the Litpick interview) 

Special thanks for help and support in the process of writing this book:
Esref Armagan
Joan Eroncel (Mr. Armagan's manager)
Dr. John M. Kennedy (University of Toronto)
Dr. Amir Amedi (Harvard Medical School & Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Art Beyond Sight 
Zafer Kizilkaya for photo permission