The first time I had a migraine with aura was around 1980. I had been working on an art project in a small enclosed area when I started seeing spots in front of my eyes. It lasted about 45 minutes and I attributed it to the spray glue I was using. I didn't have another episode until after the birth of my daughter 8 years later. It would start with spots in front of my eyes and grow until there would be only one spot in focus, but every time I moved my eyes to focus on that spot it would, of course, move. The whole experience was frightening because I had a baby to care for and I couldn't distinguish any object. It was like looking through a clear reflector or a kaleidoscope. When it was diagnosed as migraine I was surprised because there was no headache associated with it (I do have painful migraines, but they are never at the same time as the ones with the auras.) I gradually became used to them and they ceased to frightened me. I began to be fascinated by the patterns and in 1993 did a pastel painting during an occurrance. Now the whole idea of "Migraine Art" as intriguing and I have started exploring the concept both with photography and painting. I enjoy the challenge of taking a moving, elusive experience and trying to capture its essence. It's like trying to freeze the motion of a wave.