Childhood

“Childhood” is a mixed media piece inspired by my feelings about my childhood with autism.  The drawing is based off an old photo of me from when I was three or four years old.  I really liked playing in the old sandbox in the house where I spent my toddler years.  In my childhood, I felt that people were always monitoring my autistic behaviors.  I was frequently in therapy because there was concern that my autistic traits would prevent me from being successful at the time.

The piece is depicted as storm clouds with eyes representing therapists watching me.  The sandbox with a gold piece sign represents my desire for inner peace.  The rainbow shining on the sandbox from a storm cloud in the sky represents the beauty and happiness of neurodiversity.  My sandbox with a gold peace sign symbolizes my inner peace.  The sandbox was my stim and my “escape” from my uncomfortable feelings of being monitored.

This piece has been selected to be in an exhibit at the United Nations called the “Stroke of Genius!”

COPIC markers, colored pencils, POSCA markers

20″x15” illustration board.

September 2021