Penn Valley artist E. J. Gold says he awoke recently feeling he had received a communication "from above" that the blind can draw. "And I knew how they could not only learn how to draw, but they could see their drawings and the similarly created drawings of other blind artists," he said.

The result is an art class on Saturday at Ben Franklin's in Grass Valley.

Gold along with Ben Franklin art by Michal Rainsburger worked together to make the class a reality.

Rainsburger had recently acquired metal embossing tools and supplies that Gold took back to his studio to experiment with.

The result was a 5-inch by 7-inch portrait in metal that passed the test: It has a tactile, readable surface and is good to look at by either the visually impaired or the sighted.

Gold's class, which will focus on drawing techniques using embossing materials, is open to people with visual handicaps as well as to teachers, tutors and caregivers. Children under 12 may attend when accompanied by an adult.

The time is from 2-4 p.m. Register at Ben Franklin Crafts, 598 Sutton Way, Grass Valley. The class costs $15 per class, plus materials (available at Ben Franklin Crafts at a discount).

An eclectic artist with a world wide reputation, Gold heads the Grass Valley Graphics Group. For more about him and his classes, contact (530) 271-2239 or info@hei-art.com; online at www.hei-art.com.



- The Union staff