As an autistic adult, I use my paintings and drawings as an illustration of my social range. On one end there are the most abstract works where the brush strokes and colors are aggressive and bold. In these works, there is a dichotomy between my analytical observations and my overwhelming sensory response towards my subject matter. When I create in this way the logic and reason is more attributable to me and how I understand and see the world. In these circumstances I am attempting to communicate the influence of movement and highly intense color that all five of my senses are responding to. In many cases this physical response is so forceful I need to literally withdraw myself to produce very gestural/minimalist representations of what I’m sensing.
Being autistic influences all aspects of me as an individual, not just my artwork. I cannot simply separate myself from my autism to create artwork. Whether or not I choose to make it a focal point of what I’m doing, it’s always going to be there and resonate within the imagery. Additionally, I cannot simply decide not
to exist in neurotypical society. Because of this there are times when working in and around social norms (or neurotypical society) I see and create more traditionally representational paintings and drawings.
It is my intent by working within this range, abstract to representational/representational to abstract, to provide a positive social commentary for autistic individuals and promote inclusion for anyone who may be perceived as being different.