Blind artist from Kansas City area known for charity work dies

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) – A legally blind artist from the Kansas City area whose work generated millions of dollars in charity has died.

The Kansas City Star reports that Jeff Hanson of Overland Park, Kansas, was 27 when he died Sunday. He had been diagnosed with a new brain tumor associated with neurofibromatosis in October.

Hanson found art after he lost most of his vision in 2005 because of a tumor on his optic nerve.

He began painting at age 12 while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Hanson sold paintings to Elton John, Billy Joel, Warren Buffett and others, generating proceeds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

More than 200 nonprofit organizations benefited from his auctioned works.