Young Edmonton Artist Can’t Walk, Talk, But Creations Earn Hundreds of Dollars

Nathan Devlin has an eye for colour and longs to capture the beauty in nature.

Unlike most artists, though, he needs a little extra help.

The 22-year-old Edmonton man has cerebral palsy and doesn’t talk or walk, but fans have paid hundreds of dollars for his creations.

“It’s important that it’s his art as much as possible,” says Renee Laporte, Devlin’s assistant. She’s been by his side since kindergarten, finding ways to adapt techniques to keep Devlin in charge.

“That’s the whole thing we’re trying to debunk — that someone with a disability can’t do the art himself,” Laporte said.

He can. And he does.

Devlin’s interest in art was evident from his early years, and by high school he began using more professional acrylic paints and canvas, Laporte said.

Throughout his school years, then in classes at MacEwan University, Laporte accompanied Devlin, learning different techniques and adapting them so Devlin can use them.

They look online together to find images Devlin would like to paint. Laporte asks him questions — does he want to paint something from nature? An abstract? A person? He answers with gestures, facial expressions and eye movements.

Once they’ve settled on a template, Laporte tapes off portions of the canvas so Devlin can work on one segment of the painting at a time. He slathers on many layers of colour in broad strokes before they move onto the next segment. When he wants to include fine details, Laporte will guide Devlin’s hands.

Devlin is also a photographer. His father has rigged up a pole to suspend his Nikon in front of him. He uses his left arm to bop a large remote control button on the side of his wheelchair to trigger the shutter. Laporte said he likes to take pictures in the mountains, and has recreated some of his pictures in paintings.

Last year, Devlin painted downtown Edmonton’s skyline for the Atco Edmonton Sun Christmas Charity Auction.

After hearing about Devlin’s art classes from Laporte, St. Albert NDP MLA Marie Renaud commissioned Devlin to create a piece for her constituency office.

A beaming Devlin pulled off a sheet to unveil his piece last month and Renaud’s staff “freaked right out,” Laporte said.

For 14 years, Renaud was executive director of the Lo-Se-Ca Foundation, which assists people with disabilities.

“Every day I get to see this huge painting that reminds me of where I come from, and what’s important,” Renaud said.

As Laporte explains how they’re exploring the idea of turning Nathan’s art into a possible business, his eyes crinkle and his face cracks into a wide smile.

For now, he’s building up a portfolio that his dad posts online.

“(We can) really show people that with the right support, someone with a disability can do great art,” Laporte said.

jfrench@postmedia.com