My name is Ed Kerns. I am a native of Portland Oregon. I was born with a natural urge to create with my hands. My elementary and high schools both offered art, music and shop classes which helped me to cultivate my natural passions. At the age of 20 I was studying to be a welder with an eye on metal sculpture when my path was alternated in an auto accident on Mt Hood that resulted in a spinal cord injury.
After a decade of learning how to live in a paralyzed body, I started taking art classes again in college which re-inspired my desire to make things but now I had the extra challenge of learning to do it with paralyzed hands. Painting and drawing became my primary art forms because I could still hold a pencil or paintbrush independently in my hands or even in my teeth when needed.
I also like to create murals, mosaics, metal sculptures and other mixed media art but in these types of projects I need to rely on an assistant with whom I can channel my project ideas, designs and visions through their hands.