Drawing Autism

Now in its second edition, Drawing Autism is a collection of artwork compiled by NYC-based behavioral analyst Jill Mullin. Mullin explains in her introductory essay how one year her work had her cross paths with an autistic artist living in a group home who showed extraordinary joy and talent through his artwork. Her acquaintance with this artist inspired her to seek out other talented artists with autism across the world. Mullin lays out her end goal with this project:"Commonly in the media, individuals with autism have been shown to have great talents in certain areas such as science and math. The intention of this book is to display another area where individuals with autism can have great abilities."Within this opening essay, Mullin also reveals that this project ended up being so successful that it helped greatly propel the featured artists into global notoriety, many of them being asked to do art showings all over the world. Mullin's essay is preceded by a foreword written by none other than Temple Grandin, one of today's most famous faces when it comes to autism awareness! Also included in the art collection are a few of Grandin's diagrams of her inventions (designs for more humane deaths for cattle in meat processing facilities).Mullin wrote up a list of interview questions that she submitted to each artist she asked to be featured in this collection. From those questions, she pulls some of the most interesting or revealing answers, placing them alongside the artwork, giving the viewer / reader an eye-opening look into the world of an autistic mind. The collection as a whole is broken up into themed sections that illustrate common characteristics of the autism spectrum as a whole. For example, "Getting From Here To There" collects art pieces that focus on fascination with various modes of transportation; "Interaction, Individual and Societal" gives artists a space to express how they perceive themselves from a societal point of view. Many pieces in this section illustrate feelings of isolation, not being fully understood or accepted, frustration with miscommunications, etc; "Art For Art's Sake" is a place for the artists to just create for the sake of joy and fun. There's no particular deep meaning to the works in this section necessarily, just pieces that have made the artists happy or at peace in their souls.Personally, "Art For Art's Sake" and "Bird's Eye View" (pieces focusing on nature themes) were my favorite sections. I especially loved the works of Shawn Belanger -- his autism leaves him predominately non-verbal -- whose work is featured on several pages of Drawing Autism. The colors and movement of his pieces shouted a joy of life to me! My very favorite piece though, I think I'd give that to "The Death of Love #373" by Charles D. Topping. I could not stop looking at it!Some of the images, several actually, have definite grit and darkness to them. Some perusers of this book might be shocked at certain pieces if the paintings are only taken on their own. I would urge that you read the accompanying interview answers explaining many of the pieces. There you will see that while perhaps initially a shock to the eye, there is a purpose and / or a story of hurt behind the inspiration that you should hear.

I'm not much of a fan of visual art, and an ebook format is not an ideal medium for appreciation of detailed graphics. Yet, these creations speak to us on a private level, and convey feelings and emotions that would otherwise pass us by. Thanks to Jill's curation, we meet people on a unique level of communication, as if directly soul to soul.

I came across this book while looking for books on what has been called Outsider Art or Art Brut. The connection is not surprising; many of these works by autistic artists have features in common with those done by the earlier artists called Outsiders, such as an emphasis on pattern and repetition, an urge to completely fill space, and a use of words as a decorative/artistic element. On the basis of biographical descriptions of Outsider Artists that I have read, too, I strongly suspect that if those artists had been alive today (most worked in the early 20th century), many of them would be diagnosed as belonging on the autistic spectrum.Be that as it may, this book is interesting on its own for the variety of unique styles the artists display. Some show photographically accurate renditions of landscapes or objects in meticulous detail, while others feature explosions of wild color or playful depictions of fantastic scenes and animals. The comments by the artists or their caregivers (in cases where the artists were not able to speak on their own) about why they do art or choose particular subjects are also illuminating. Both works and comments highlight modes of perception from which those of us who are “neurotypical” can learn much.All of the works are shown in color (if they were created in color), and almost all are given a full or nearly full page apiece, so the reader can see them in detail. The book is organized according to themes that turn up frequently among the artists: Interaction, Individual and Societal; Repetition, Repetition, Repetition; Getting from Here to There [transportation]; Bird’s-Eye View; Another World; It’s All History; and Art for Art’s Sake. Brief biographies of the artists appear at the end.

Bravo! A beautiful book of artwork filled with creativity. I've already given it to several people, some of whom have experienced living with autistic children, others for the sheer joy of seeing what these delightful and gifted young people are capable of accomplishing!

Beautiful prints and lovely paragraph descriptions of the artists who share their work. A valuable book I was keeping at home, but now I share with my elementary-age students with autism. Some students are very inspired by seeing the art in this book. I was too.

La capacidad de expresarse a traves de la pintura es siempre conmovente pero la de estas personas es todavia mas especial.Felicitaciones a todas las personas que trabajan con ellos para poder darles esta oportunidad.

This is a book which let you rethink what Autism people are thinking.There is no an answer in this book. This is good to let the reader to think.

Thanks!