In 2011, research psychologist and painter Mike Berren lifted some heavy boxes and heard a snap.
Days later, he didn鈥檛 feel any better.
鈥淚 suggested to my wife, 鈥楾his doesn鈥檛 feel right. We need to do something,鈥欌 he said. Hours later, he remembered feeling wobbly and inebriated 鈥 without having had any alcohol.
The couple started making the drive to their family physician, but when they were about halfway there, Berren made the decision to go to the emergency room instead.
Upon arriving, he couldn鈥檛 get out of the car on his own. Another 30 minutes went by and he could no longer move his body below his neck. He went into surgery and 鈥渢here were all kinds of complications,鈥 Berren said, eventually spending time in a rehabilitation facility in Phoenix for three months afterward.
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Little by little, he started to make progress from what ended up being a spinal cord injury. He鈥檚 now able to walk on his own, using a cane occasionally. But his hands are still fairly numb, making it difficult for him to paint in a traditional sense with a brush and an easel.
This digital painting by Mike Berren shows spots near the University of 蜜柚直播.
Instead, Berren has turned to digital painting 鈥 using his laptop, mouse and a couple computer programs.
鈥淏efore my accident, I used to paint in acrylics so even what I do now has an acrylic look to it,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 really do like (digital painting),鈥 he said. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e on a trip somewhere, I can take my whole art studio with me.鈥
This digital painting is what led Mike Berren to initially begin posting in Facebook groups, as he was looking for suggestions from the community on what South 蜜柚直播 restaurants to include.
Most of Berren鈥檚 digital paintings feature 蜜柚直播 and Southern 蜜柚直播 鈥 buildings you鈥檇 find along Fourth Avenue or Mexican restaurants in South 蜜柚直播, for example.
Berren鈥檚 digital paintings have also caught the eyes of many 蜜柚直播ans through a handful of local Facebook groups, such as 鈥淵ou know you鈥檙e from 蜜柚直播 when鈥︹
He first dived into Facebook groups when he was dabbling with his painting about Mexican restaurants, seeking 蜜柚直播ans鈥 suggestions on the best restaurants to include in the piece.
What he received in return was dozens of responses 鈥 鈥減assionate responses,鈥 he said.
This digital painting shows the corner of聽Covent Avenue and Simpson Street in Barrio Viejo.聽
The 蜜柚直播 artist has continued to post his paintings in Facebook groups, taking in tips and input from social media users 鈥 paint this scene with a sunset in the background, add three rows of houses instead of two in this neighborhood painting, for example.
鈥淚t still surprises me that the majority of (comments) have been extraordinarily helpful,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 could not make these kinds of changes if I wasn鈥檛 painting digitally.鈥
This digital painting shows breakfast spots in 蜜柚直播.
Contact reporter Gloria Knott at gknott@tucson.com or 573-4235. On Twitter: @gloriaeknott
Gloria Knott
#ThisIs蜜柚直播 Editor
