Autism is a condition related to brain development.
According to Mayo Clinic, it impacts how a person perceives and socializes with other people, causing some problems in communication and social interaction.
But a young girl in the UK proves that autism can also come with unexpected gifts – her remarkable attention to detail and focus have helped her make beautiful masterpieces.
Iris Grace was introduced to painting by her parents when she was two. That’s when they discovered her creative mind.
Her supportive mom, Arabella Carter-Jonson, explained on their website irisgracepainting: “We have been encouraging Iris to paint to help with speech therapy, joint attention and turn-taking.
“Then we realized that she is actually really talented and has an incredible concentration span of around 2 hours each time she does her amazing drawings. Her autism has created a style of painting which I have never seen in a child of her age, and she has an understanding of colors and how they interact with each other.”
Carter-Johnson also told Bored Panda: “I first noticed how effective art was with Iris when I was trying to establish joint attention, I would draw stick men and make up stories, and she would laugh and guide my hand to do more.
“I used to tape down large sheets of wallpaper liner down onto a wooden coffee table, and we would work or drawing ideas together.
“Then, when we tried painting with her, it was on an easel, and that didn’t work at all as the paint dribbled down the paper and upset her so I thought I would let her try on the same table as we used for her drawing. She took to it straight away and filled the paper with color. So that was how it all came about. I quickly learned how effective it was as a therapy, to help with her moods, communication.”
She explained to Bored Panda: “[Painting] wasn’t something that the doctors suggested although I wish they had. That is something a lot of the media have got wrong.
“It came about because I was educating her at home and I was trying to follow the national curriculum and mark-making, drawing, painting was one of the things on my hit list to do with Iris.”
She added: “Her visual memory is excellent, and it allows us to see how sometimes life must become overwhelming. It’s now easy to understand that, for Iris, when things get to be too much she needs silence and peace.
“Her art has opened up our eyes to the possibilities in her life and of others on the indigo children spectrum – follow their ‘spark’ and wonderful things can happen. I am a great believer in giving as many opportunities to autistic kids as you can.”
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