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Image: One of Hal's paintings: fall foliage

Passion Knows No Age: The 97-Year-Old Artist Painting Pixel by Pixel

Has your life ever been thrown off course because of something you couldn’t control? The life of the “Pixel Painter” will have you thinking up new ways you can get back to fulfilling your own dreams in no time!

After an incurable eye disease changed this artist’s view of the world, the then 85-year-old turned to something surprising to keep his creative mind active. Using a program from the ’80s, Hal Lasko—better known as ‘Grandpa’—spent the next 14 years of his life creating intricately detailed paintings, pixel by pixel, with Microsoft Paint!

Image: One of Hal's paintings: fall foliage
“Looking Up” by Hal Lasko

“The Proof is in the Pixel”

Unlike my own elementary attempts at Microsoft Paint, the creations of Hal Lasko belong on a museum wall. Every pixel is touched individually, colored just right to create highly detailed paintings—even if they take 2 years to complete.

Have you ever loved something so much that you couldn’t think of not doing it? Hal was a typographer for most of his life, designing fonts by hand. And even eventually losing his sight from wet macular degeneration—an incurable eye disease where the center of your vision goes—didn’t stop him from doing the detailed work he loved. Instead, at 85, he turned to the computer for creative freedom!

“He will talk to you about art for longer than you want to listen to him, sometimes he talks about it in his sleep.”

— Ron Lasko, son

It happened in 2000. His grandkids bought him a computer with Microsoft Paint preloaded and the rest was history; Hal had the freedom to create whatever he wanted! Even up until a few hours before he passed away in 2014, Hal Lasko is said to have been talking about art and his paintings. 1

This short documentary (the sweetest one you’ll ever see) catches up with Hal on his 97th birthday in 2013 still doing what he loves! Take a look.

Via: The Pixel Painter 2

Can you even believe how beautiful that film is?  Find more work from this film’s directors Josh Bogdan and Ryan Lasko by clicking their names!

You can check out Hal Lasko’s artwork over on his website by clicking here! (This one’s my favorite!)

Hal passed a year after this documentary was made, but boy was that a good year! He sold his first piece of artwork, had international gallery showings, and was even featured in Microsoft’s 2013 Super Bowl commercial. His website reads that “he passed away just shy of his 99th birthday in 2014, leaving us with a legacy that passion knows no age, and for Hal, the proof of that is surely in the pixels.” 3

So, here’s to Hal. A man many of us didn’t meet personally, but whose story can change the trajectory of our own. He showed us all the true meaning of living life to its absolute fullest, never letting age and everything that comes with it get in the way of finding joy every day.

Passion knows no age!

Although life will always keep dropping huge branches in our path, there’s possibility for our obstacles to become the tinder for something great!

Hal wasn’t able to do anything about his eyesight but he could find a way to bring more joy into his life and the lives of everyone around him. We have a remarkable ability to adapt to situations we’re in, finding ways to either overcome or work with whatever we’ve been dealt.

If that’s sounding pretty good to you right now, you’re definitely going to want to see these stories next. Each of these uniquely marvelous people chose to live for their dreams—what they wanted to do—regardless of what faced them.

You’re Never Too Old to Dive into Your Dreams!

Have you ever seen a 90-year-old do a flip? The team members of the Harlem Honeys and Bears are reminding us that we’re never too old to find a passion in life, and certainly never too old to try something new!

Read Article Watch Video Listen to Podcast
This 90-Year-Old Figure Skater Proves You’re Never Too Old To Do What You Love

Let’s let the magnificent, 90 year old figure skater, Yvonne Dowlen, skate into our hearts and leave us with wisdom about balance, joy and the unfolding of life.

Read Article Watch Video Listen to Podcast
Meet the 97-Year-Old Saving Thousands of Bluebirds!

Can one of us really make a difference? After hearing the story of Al Larson, there’s no doubt!

Read Article Watch Video Listen to Podcast

Can you think of what you’d still like to be doing when you’re 97?

As always, my friends, stay open to new possibilities!

  • Sam

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Notes:

  1. Sandy, Eric. “‘Pixel Painter’ Hal Lasko Dies at 98.” Cleveland Scene, Cleveland Scene, 8 July 2014, www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2014/07/08/pixel-painter-hal-lasko-dies-at-98. Accessed 27 Oct. 2020.
  2. The Pixel Painter. “The Pixel Painter.” Vimeo, 27 Oct. 2020, vimeo.com/70748579. Accessed 27 Oct. 2020.
  3. “About – Hallasko.Com.” Hallasko.Com, 2020, www.hallasko.com/pages/about. Accessed 27 Oct. 2020.
Image: Samantha Burns

Sam Burns

Former Editor-In-Chief

Sam wrote and edited hundreds of articles during her time on the Goodness Exchange team from 2016-2021. She wrote about topics from the wonders of nature to the organizations changing the world and the simple joys in life! Outside of the Goodness Exchange, she’s a part-time printmaker, collector of knick-knacks, and procurer of cheeses.

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