Masami Hasegawa #strokeart2014

My name is Masami Hasegawa. I was born and currently live in Japan. I had a stroke twelve years ago at age 60, which left me in long-time struggle with right hemiplegia and severe aphasia. I had no interest in making my own art work before the stroke. However, things have changed since I joined the Sumomo Club in Osaka, Japan, a day-care facility specialized for people who have aphasia or other communication disorders. Encouraged by my peers and staff there, I started photography and painting with my left hand. It took me some time to get used to it, but I have enjoyed it so much, that now I do it every day, even at home. Picking up my camera/paintbrush is one of the essential parts of my current life in terms of expressing myself.

Taketoshi Maesugi #strokeart2014

My name is Taketoshi Maesugi. I was born and currently live in Japan. I had a stroke eight years ago at 49 years old. I had no interest in making my own art work before, as I had been extremely busy with my job, carpenter. However, things changed since I joined the Sumomo Club (a day-service facility in Osaka, Japan). Encouraged by my peers and staff there, I started photography and painting. I really found out that anybody has artistic potential. I never imagined that I could take photos or draw a picture, but I am enjoying it very much now. I am also very happy to see people smiling when receiving

presents of my art work.

Kiyokazu Omori #strokeart2014

I’m Kiyokazu Omori. I was born and still live in Japan. I had a stroke four years ago when I was seventy years old. Since then, my speech has become extremely limited due to severe aphasia. I spend most of my time painting at home. Selecting a nice scene, which I like, drawing it even to the details, and showing my work to my friends at the Sumomo Club (a day-service facility in Osaka, Japan): the whole process is hugely enjoyable. Beyond the speech/language barrier I’m facing, I get to express myself with confidence through art, which is very valuable to me.

Michio Umeki #strokeart2014

My name is Michio Umeki. I was born in Japan and still live there. I was forty-eight years old when I had a stroke, which is already nine years ago. This event brought me a drastic change in my life, with right hemiplegia and moderate aphasia. Actually I have never painted before the stroke. When I began to paint at the Sumomo Club, I had a hard time for a while to get used to, as I use my left hand. But now, I get to work even on pretty big paintings. An activity like this has been helping me to regain self-confidence little by little. I am extremely happy when I see my wife put my paintings on the wall at home. I also often give it away to somebody like my friend or family. It is such a rewarding experience to get to see someone’s smile with my art work.

Yoshiaki Aoki

My name is Yoshiaki Aoki. I was born in Japan and still live there. I was fifty-six years old when I had a stroke, which is now sixteen years ago. Since then, I have struggled with severe aphasia, but no physical disability. I spend a lot of time outside walking around in town with my company: my camera. I try to find patiently an interesting or funny place or thing to take the best shot. Even though my speech is quite limited, my photographs tell everything about me, my focus and my interest. It is my utmost joy to show my work to my family and friends at the Sumomo Club.

Keith Anderson #strokeart2014

My name is Keith Anderson I am 58 years old.I live in England my stroke was in 2007, I was left handed but lost the use of my left hand side, I self taught myself to paint and have dabbled in all mediums from oil paint to Pastels, also air dry clay, metal embossing, parchment craft and more. This year was given the chance to attend classes at The art Studio Sunderland a charity run place where members get their own studio space to make and display their own artworks and use the facility's~ ceramics room with kiln, printmaking room with various printing processes. A friendly group who all have mental/ Physical disabilities

Keith Anderson #strokeart2014

Since my stroke in 2007aged 50,despite having the use of one hand I've taken up painting, in oils,acrylic,watercolour. Also attend The art studio Sunderland a charity based centre for people with mental issues where activities include ceramics,printmaking,digital photography,painting etc have many paintings etc to have to choose just one is difficult.

Lisa Wagner #strokeart2014

I am from Pine Bluffs Wyoming, USA. I had a stroke on Aug 10th 2013 and have aphasia now. Learning to talk and write again a long on going journey. I am 56 now and have had two other stroke on May 17th 2014 and July 15th 2014. Still work with doctor find out why. My artwork keep my brain working and right arm, which a battle sometime now. This computer art. My strokes from blood clot too fast. I not give up, I PICK to Survive this. I hope I inspire others to try too. Blessings.

Enrique (Hershele) Rotenberg #strokeart2014

Enrique (Hershele) Rotenberg KIBBUTZ HAHOTRIM ISRAEL I was born in Argentina and immigrated to Israel at the age of 20 to the kibbutz where I live to this day. I married, we had 3 wonderful children and today I am blessed with 5 grandchildren. I served in many key positions in the kibbutz and was also an officer in the Israeli army. At the age of 45 I had a heart attack, followed 3 years later by a severe stroke, leaving me very handicapped. Before the stroke I had no experience in creating art. However, I began to paint with a teacher and today I also sculpture in clay and papier-mâché. I enjoy great satisfaction from my creativity and am able to “console myself” with the fact that if not for the stroke, I would never have discovered my ability to create and enjoy this pastime. Today I am already 17 years after the cerebral vascular accident.

Susan Lewis #strokeart2014

My name is Susan Lewis and I was born in Manchester UK. I had a stroke at the age of 62 in 2009. My left side was affected, I was unable to walk or use my left hand and I am a left handed person. Eventually I regained the use of my limbs but I still have some weakness. I started to draw and paint bookmarks with my daughter just to see if I could manage to create something small. I found this to be very relaxing and therapeutic. I decided to find an Art Class and joined one in April 2014. I have now painted two landscape watercolour pictures for the first time in my life and I hope to carry on painting because I love to paint and I have also met some lovely people at the class. I now have new friends and a wonderful hobby which I hope will continue for the future.

Moshe Shoham #strokeart2014

Moshe Shoham (69), born in Argentina and immigrated to Israel in 1965. A member of Kibbutz Afik where he fulfilled many senior administrative roles. Worked in hotel management and specializes in economics of food and nutrition. Suffered a stroke 9 years ago. Took the leadership role in establishing a club of Neeman for stroke survivors and their caregivers in the many isolated settlements around the Sea of Galilee. “As a result of my stroke, I partially lost my third dimensional sight, in addition to left side hemiplegia. Consequently I have chosen to create largely abstract works in painting and ceramics. In that way I am able to give expression to movement and sharpness of colours.” Presenting works from 2013-14 Digital paintings and Ceramic sculpture Photos by Gal Lapid/Moran Grosz

Jessica Thåström #strokeart2014

I suffered a stroke at 16, brought on by contraceptive pills. It caused all disabilities associated with stroke, except aphasia, such as; hemiparesis, sensory disturbances, visual field loss, chronic fatigue, attention disorder and Neglect. I lost insterest in life, became suicidal and could not see a future. I suffered from depression and PTSD due to the time I spent in the hospital. It took six years to find my way back to my art, and found my own techinques and motifs. My art is stroke related; how it feels to live with the effects of stroke, to literally feel like half a body and how it feels to live with this fatigue. I will never recover fully, but I have found quality of life through art and writing my biography. I will soon be 23 years old and I have gone from being a shy and timid girl – STROKE – to being hateful and depressed with no visions for the future, to speaking publicly about my experiences and finding my own voice. I feel as though I was meant to suffer all the effects except for aphasia; I was born to speak. To tell of the flipside of stroke.

Paul Edgerton #strokeart2014

Hi I'm a stroke survivor from Stockport and I turned to art when I became ill with Angina, then I had my strokes and my art work has gone bigger and better, It helps me to relax and it takes away all the pressure and anxiety that builds up when you've had a stroke. I started drawing first then moved on to water colours, now I'm doing large canvas's with acrylics. It's great fun.

#strokeart2014 M. Shoham

Art work from stroke survivors will be on display at WSC 2014 in Istanbul.

#strokeart2014 Anita Hamers - Dijkstra

My name is Anita Hamers - Dijkstra, I'm 47 years old, born in Hoogwoud and I live in Spanbroek in the Netherlands.

I am a member of the Dutch Association stroke support organization.

After my education of four years ‘Painting and Exhibitor’ at the Nimeto in Utrecht  I worked two years as Exhibitor. In 1988, twenty-six years ago at the age of 21 years, I've had my stroke.
Since this time I had to paint left, which was pretty difficult in the beginning. Fortunately, my inspiration was not lost. Now I paint again since 1992 it has helped me in my recovery, and it will continue to help me in the future. Life has regained value by being able to paint.
In 1995 I married, our son was born in May 1997. The birth of my son has influenced my paintings at that time. I painted subjects that had to do with "children."
My motivation I get again and again the challenge to combine my fantasy thoughts with my feelings this 'combination' than is reflected in my paintings.

My technique is partly determined by the subject to paint on a fantasy - "unnatural" way to approach. The subjects of my paintings are created by combining today experiences with my colorful imagination.