John Bramblitt has never seen his own paintings. The 34-year-old artist didn't pick up a brush until he went blind about four years ago.

Bramblitt suffers from a seizure disorder that damaged the connection between his eyes and his brain.

"The equipment works, but the signal's not getting through anymore," he explained.

His world shrank by increments until he could see only light, but no images. Bramblitt, a creative writing major at the University of North Texas in Denton and an avid reader, found himself trapped in his head.

Painting was a way out, but he initially chose the visual medium out of defiance.