About the Artist
Featuring the artwork of my amazing son who has autism.
He is nonverbal expressing his world through color. Jason - AKA Bubba, paints every night and has been doing so since 2019.
He was born with autism and has never said a word. Jason's autism and obsessions - had left us searching - for years - to find something he could do, that he enjoyed - and didn't become harmful or destructive.
We've had a rough go - around the time Jason turned 16 his sensory issues were really out of control. He was awake 24 hours a day, went back to wearing adult depends, and couldn’t control his urge to touch everything. Literally, his body was out of his control. For a few years, we were not able to leave the house. Gradually, Jason got better and we were able to go places using a wheelchair and now walking and going places.
His story is way more complex than that. It's hard to explain what we've been through and would be quite overwhelming to explain - basically, we've been through the trenches and have adopted our lives to meet Jason's special needs. We believe Special Needs means changing our world to allow him a safe place for him to be,
In 2019, it started out with us (his parents) introducing art to him with markers, and he enjoyed that so we switched to paint. It was a mess to begin with, paint everywhere! We've perfected our gear (hat, painting shirt, apron “Painting Shield”, sleeves and gloves) Jason is now independently able to put on all his gear, picks out and pours his own paints.
Did I mention he paints - EVERY NIGHT! We have nearly 1000 paintings in our basement.
In 2021 we bought him an iPod and he uses an app to tell us things. The app allows us to load pictures, words and his dad’s voice to speak. Now, he can tell us if he needs to use the bathroom, where he wants to go or if he needs something - like Starbucks - iced green tea lemonade.
For Bubba, having consistency and a speaking device have helped ease his anxiety and given him personal freedom.
Everyday is the same. No spontaneity or changes to the routine. Literally, the same tasks, same places, same routine, day in and day out. We are so thankful that he enjoys painting.
He is nonverbal expressing his world through color. Jason - AKA Bubba, paints every night and has been doing so since 2019.
He was born with autism and has never said a word. Jason's autism and obsessions - had left us searching - for years - to find something he could do, that he enjoyed - and didn't become harmful or destructive.
We've had a rough go - around the time Jason turned 16 his sensory issues were really out of control. He was awake 24 hours a day, went back to wearing adult depends, and couldn’t control his urge to touch everything. Literally, his body was out of his control. For a few years, we were not able to leave the house. Gradually, Jason got better and we were able to go places using a wheelchair and now walking and going places.
His story is way more complex than that. It's hard to explain what we've been through and would be quite overwhelming to explain - basically, we've been through the trenches and have adopted our lives to meet Jason's special needs. We believe Special Needs means changing our world to allow him a safe place for him to be,
In 2019, it started out with us (his parents) introducing art to him with markers, and he enjoyed that so we switched to paint. It was a mess to begin with, paint everywhere! We've perfected our gear (hat, painting shirt, apron “Painting Shield”, sleeves and gloves) Jason is now independently able to put on all his gear, picks out and pours his own paints.
Did I mention he paints - EVERY NIGHT! We have nearly 1000 paintings in our basement.
In 2021 we bought him an iPod and he uses an app to tell us things. The app allows us to load pictures, words and his dad’s voice to speak. Now, he can tell us if he needs to use the bathroom, where he wants to go or if he needs something - like Starbucks - iced green tea lemonade.
For Bubba, having consistency and a speaking device have helped ease his anxiety and given him personal freedom.
Everyday is the same. No spontaneity or changes to the routine. Literally, the same tasks, same places, same routine, day in and day out. We are so thankful that he enjoys painting.