It might help to draw inspiration from those famous artists who had low vision.? Monet had macular abnormalities (loss of central vision), Rembrandt had cataracts, and Georgia O'Keefe had macular degeneration. Painting as well as other artwork is more than just a visual experience — it's also a rich sensory experience — an opportunity to express yourself.?

Here are a few hints:

• Organize your supplies. Use plastic shoe boxes for colored powders or an egg carton for oil paint tubes.
• Label your colors and paint supplies with large print labels.
• Consider a change of subjects or styles. For example try landscapes instead of portraits or maybe abstract instead of realism.
• Use task lighting such as a gooseneck lamp or — even better — use natural light and paint with the sun coming over your shoulders.
• Pastels and drawing pencils can be organized in a "drilled" 2x4 wooden block. You can then place large print or Braille labels on both the pastel crayon and on the wood.
• Shapes can be made out of Manila file folders.? For example, cut out the shape of a pear for a still life of fruit. If you keep both the pear cutout and the file folder half you will have a positive and negative of the pear. You can position the file folder on to the canvas and paint in the cutout pear-shaped area. When you have finished painting, and before removing the file folder, use a small piece of double stick tape to secure the pear cut piece over the drawing.? You can now remove the file folder. You can continue to paint by filling in the background, or use the same approach to add other cutout shapes and designs.
• Ask your eye doctor about low vision devices that may help you see and study objects while keeping your hands free to paint. Examples to consider might be frame mounted telescopes or microscopes. Some artists have had success using Closed Circuit Television Sets (CCTVs).