In his teens and 20s, Keith discovered punk music and its accompanying aspect of fanzines, or self-published magazines that focus on music, art, and creative nonfiction. While learning these skills, Keith was still drawing and cultivating his style, with a heavy nod to comic book culture. The most important one for Keith is “scanning,” in which he scans and memorizes the objects in his visual field as a way of mapping out the things in front of him and, in a way, replacing his peripheral vision. There he worked with terrific, patient visual coaches who taught him skills that helped him navigate the world. By then, he was already a dedicated artist and has never let his lack of peripheral vision stop him from exploring the visual arts.ĭuring his teen years, he spent time at summer camps at the Oregon School for the Blind. Growing up with a feverish interest in art and comic books as a kid, Keith wasn’t even fully aware of the severity of his impairment until he was 10 years old. In Keith’s case, it resulted in a severe lack of peripheral vision.

ONH is one of the three most common causes of visual impairment in children. He was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, or ONH, which is the deadening or lack of development of the optic nerve during gestation. Part of this is due to his experience and creativity, and part of it, he thinks, is because he has a particularly unique vision – or lack thereof. He’s renowned among his client base – particularly bands, record labels, and independent publishers – for creating work that’s unique and eye-catching. Like many professional illustrators and designers, Keith Rosson is familiar with taking a client’s rough idea and turning it into something visually striking.

The Mercy of the Tide by Keith Rosson