A very special art competition for very special children has highlighted the achievements of young artists who shine in art while faced with challenges in everyday life. The theme for this year’s contest was about wishes and the changes necessary to see them come true. On display were differently abled children’s hopes for their futures. While it was exciting for many of the winning children to get picked to have their artworks displayed, the real aim of the program was to get children who might be reticent to stand out to express themselves through art.
One of the young winners, who is on the autism spectrum, created lushly colored watercolor paintings of what her mother believes are coral gardens. The family often vacations at the beach, and the girl loves to explore the ocean and what’s beneath it. The painting itself incorporates bright colors, which the girl’s mother says she uses whenever she’s in a good mood, feeling happy about life. Darker colors are reserved for when the girl is sad or angry about something, showing just how important art is to expressing the girl’s feelings.
Another young winner created a piece of art that featured a teacher dressed up in superhero garb. The piece is touching, as it is of an art teacher, showing just the kind of impact art educators have on their students. The boy’s mother remarked on how special it was to see her son display his love for art. The child is attention deficit, and often has trouble sitting still and focusing. However, when he is painting, he is able to concentrate for hours at a time. He often gets up early to paint.
A third winner at the competition created a mesmerizing rainbow piece that features a car he wants to ride in at some point. The young artist is obsessed with cars, and has a toy collection that he often draws inspiration from. His paintings are of such a professional quality that it originally surprised his grandparents. Now, they are proud of his achievements and of the challenges he overcame to reach them.
Observers of the work on display were fascinated that the pieces were created by differently abled children. One woman remarked that it seemed like individuals on the autism spectrum were simply tapped into life differently, able to see things that others can’t and represent them with great talent on canvas.
Art is for everyone, and art classes are no different. Whether you’re old or young, differently abled or not, there is an art class and teacher waiting for you to help you unleash your creative skills. Visit SGArtClass.com to see the wide variety of different art classes available. Sign up for everything from digital art to mural painting and everything in between. Consider enrolling a child and a group of similarly aged friends in an art class as a fun birthday party.
To learn more about the contest for the special children, go to http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/art-helps-calm-these-special-needs-kids.