Richard~Michael

Visual Art – Philadelphia

Richard Michael was transformed into an artist by a rare medical condition,. It developed after being hit by a 18 wheel truck. The trauma to his brain caused his nervous system too \"rewire\". Upon recovering he was uncharacteristically compelled to draw. Slowly as weeks passed it became evident that much had changed with his character as well.. This fully realized couch potato had a burning need to be creating….and that creating led from doodles to sketches to watercolor painting, acrylics, sculpting and creating works with \"found\" items. He searched the internet and found a Psychiatrist Darold Treffert who was working with people with \"Sudden Savant Syndrome\" wherein after brain trauma they \"awoke\" with incredible talent in a specific area not known prior. Contacting Treffert and sharing his experiences Richard came to know that somehow this had happened to him as a result of his Traumatic Brain Injury. Discovering that there was not a network of support where he could get help dealing with incorporating so much new information and drastic changes he was beginning to feel powerless, compulsed and though he would go insane. Richard decided he would start that support network, a Facebook Group so that others in the future who were determined to have this would have somewhere to go where people not only understood what was happening but had developed real-world strategies in coping with such awesome and vast change. It is meant for the loved ones, spouses family and co-workers as well.