As I was given the opportunity to use my artistic skills to create an art piece that represents a person with lived experience, I decided to use this moment to work with a mother who has a child with autism. I wanted to depict the journey she went through and the challenges she faced trying to access services when the special educational needs of some children were not understood in society.
The choice to paint light beaming through dark clouds, with a blend of vibrant colors in the background, is a representation of the array of emotions she went through but also signifies new beginnings and the silhouettes of the boy holding his mother's hand intertwined with the autism symbol was incorporated to bring awareness. Overall, the experience was insightful and allowed me to reconnect with my creative side.