Bio

I graduated from Tupelo High School in 1994. After high school, I was off to basic training in the Army National Guard as a Medical Specialist. In 1996, I enrolled at Mississippi State University, majoring in Business in Furniture Productions.

On March 14, 2000, I was reborn from a car accident that left me a quadraplegic. I had to teach myself to become a independent person. I had to become stronger physically and work with therapists to get where I am today. Along my journey I found a new love for paint. It started six years ago while I was in rehabilitation at the Shephard Center in Atlanta, GA. There I picked up my first paint brush. I held the brush in a cuff in the palm of my hand, but as I painted I couldn't keep the brush steady and I got frustrated, so after a short time I gave it up.

In 2004, I re-enrolled at Mississippi State University to complete my final 18 hours, graduating with a degree in General Business in Furniture Production.

Through my disability and art, I had the opportunity to start an art class for people with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries from a grant recieved by the Spinal Cord Trust Fund of Mississippi. Our art class is called "Our Artworks" and consists of 15 students. Local guest artists and myself teach the program. It is a year-long program and we intend to start another year in September.

I am a state board member for a nonprofit organiztion, LIFE of Mississippi (Living Independence for Everyone). I am a volunteer, peer supporter, and speker for SPC injury patients in North Mississippi.

I am also a member of the Northeast Mississippi Art Association.

For the past two years, I have been to church youth groups and elementary schools (K - 3rd). There I talk about my disability and discuss my art. I demonstrate how to drip paint from a spoon and move the canvas around while watching the colors swirl. The kids participate both by creating their own painting and we create a large painting as a group.

In 2005, I won "Best in Show" at a juried exhibit at the Gumtree Museum of Art (Tupelo, MS). In 2007, at the juried Gumtree Art Festival, with over 100 artists participating, I was awarded 3rd place.

One late night three years ago, a movie about Jackson Pollock came on and I was glued to it. I was amazed by the way he painted. It looked like something that I could do and enjoy. I haven't had much experience in painting,but I told myself this is something I want to do and I will figure out a way to do it. I came up with a method of using spoons to throw ,pour and lay paint on a canvas. Like Jackson Pollock I drip paint, except I use a cup, plate, pizza box or anything I can ge tmy hands on to drip many colors at once.

William Flewellen Heard