Neatorama » sleepwalking

The Man Who Draws in His Sleep

Adrienne Crezo — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:10:07 +0000

Back in 2008, Alex reported on Lee Hadwin, an artist who only draws in his sleep. Hadwin’s had a bit of success since then, selling pieces for up to “six figures” and even one to The Donald himself.

While there are countless documented cases of sleep-walking, this is the first known case of sleep-drawing. Hadwin got started at age 4, when he scribbled on walls and furniture. Now some of his pieces fetch six-figure prices. Still, the North Wales native doesn’t want to make art his career. He never studied art, and is lousy at drawing when awake. “Art has never interested me at all,” says Hadwin, as quoted by the BBC. But just in case, he now prepares by leaving a sketchpad, brushes, and other art supplies in his bedroom.

Hadwin says that an evening of drinking can often trigger an episode of sleep-drawing. His condition leaves experts baffled: Doctors at the Edinburgh Sleep Center can’t even determine what stage of sleep Hadwin is in when his creative impulses kick in. Whatever is happening here, says Whitchurch Arts, it’s working. And — who knows — there could be more sleep-drawing prodigies out there. “Perhaps put out a piece of paper and pencil on the bedside table tonight to find out.”

Watch Hadwin in action in this video on The Week. Link

Sleep Walk

Miss Cellania — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 01:03:14 +0000

In this game, you rearranging scenes to help a sleepwalking penguin make his way home safely. It gets pretty goofy at times. Link -via Monkeyfilter

Can You Commit Suicide While Sleeping?

Alex — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:53:53 +0000

Actually, the answer is yes – here’s a medical condition called parasomnia pseudo-suicide to give some of us insomnia just thinking about it:

A man jumps out a fifth-story window. A woman marches into oncoming traffic. Another woman loads a gun and shoots herself. All appear to be open-and-shut cases of suicide, but, then again, maybe not. In rare cases, such deaths could be caused by something called parasomnia pseudo-suicide, experts say.

In other words: It’s possible to kill yourself in your sleep.

Melissa Dahl of The Body Odd blog has more: Link

More: NY Times article about the case of Tobias Wong, a promising designer who inexplicably hanged himself in the middle of the night

Can You Sleepwalk Into a Crime?

Alex — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:53:53 +0000

Can you sleepwalk your way into crime? That’s what happened to Adam Ball, who sleepwalked into an underaged girl’s bed:

Just over a year ago, Alan Ball went to a New Year’s Eve house party, drank heavily and fell asleep on a sofa.

At some point during the night, he got up, went upstairs and climbed into bed with an under-age girl, whom he kissed on the lips.

After a year in which this lorry-driving father lost his job and was able to see his five-year-old daughter only during supervised visits, a judge at Preston Crown Court this week cleared him of sexual assault after the 35-year-old claimed he was sleepwalking at the time of the incident and had no memory of the events.

Marcus Dunk of The Daily Mail has the story: Link

(Photo: Bruce Adams)