Building Lego as a blind person.
So, a few days ago someone asked me this question, and although sighted people always wonder these things, somehow I was surprised since she has known me for many years. She had seen my lego buildings, and wondered how I had made them. She was especially surprised how I got the colours right.
Me, and colours?
Uh. the answer is simple, colours to me are just words. I have never seen anything other than the difference between light and darkness, and some say darkness is black to them. I suppose if you have seen before, colours at least, then you actually know what black is. But to me, black is a word, as much as blue, green, yellow and all the others. Of course, I have been taught at an early age that these represent colours, that grass is green, and so on, but actually having a sense as to what those colours are? No clue. A classmate actually once could not believe that I did not really know the differences between colours, and went as far as trying to explain it to me. He insisted that he could make me understand what colours looked like... He was not successful, to his very frustration, because he had been sure he could do it. However, all his explanations were references to other things sighted people just know, and I don't. So, now you know that funny story.
So how do I design my lego creations?
I just use my imagination, it's as simple as that. I have some idea of how i generally want something to look like, or feel like, in my mind, and I try to build that thing, hoping I can actually get it right. Sometimes my idea of how i would like to build it is clearer than other times, and sometimes I find halfway through I am missing parts, and I need to rethink it. I can tell you names of many of the bricks, 2 x 4 brick, 1 x 4 plate, 2 x 6 tile (Those are one of my newer favourites because they are still a little rare in my collection). But of course, I have no idea about what colour they are. I organize my lego in several ways. I have a chest with 8 drawers where things are organized, but also a few portable containers holding the tiny parts, and I work with plastic bags that can be zipped or resealed. For most parts, I can generally find what I need pretty quickly. And then I start building the part, sometimes a vehicle, sometimes a building, or sometimes also a vehicle I have built before but that I didn't like or, that I could not build the way I really wanted because I missed some parts, so I give it a try later.
So the question about the colours was related to a building of a school. She had seen the classrooms and the buildings where the students live, back in April, and last Monday she asked me how I built it. When I told her I used my imagination, that seemed hard for her to understand. She wondered how I had gotten the colours right, and I explained to her that I had not looked at the colours. Well, to her, the colours were perfect, and really good. I certainly think that was interesting, and as I was thinking about it today, I decided to write a blog post about my lego building and about colours.
I guess the right colours must have been totally random. Also it is possible she did not look so closely, who knows. But well, I am glad she liked my lego building, and generally every sighted person who comes in here, find it amazing what I have been building over the years.
So, #Lego certainly is my hobby, and a great way to relax for me, especially when I am feeling stressed. I hope you will find something to help relax and express yourself too.
Bee Good to yourselves, and each other.
Monique, the Crazy Dutchy