NC man with autism finds his voice through art

From the Shelby Star in N.C.:

Through his artwork, Scott Washington (pictured) has found his voice.

Scott, 21, was diagnosed at age 3 with mild autism, said his parents, Sylvester and Peggy Washington. He didn't talk and make eye contact like other children, and really didn't speak until age 5. Even now he has difficulty carrying on conversations with strangers.

"We really didn't notice that at first," Peggy said. "We just thought he was a really good baby."At the time of his diagnosis, autism was still relatively unheard of.

"Until middle school, he was in mainstream classes. Once he got to sixth grade, he began exceptional children's classes, just because the teachers didn't know what to expect. I think he was the first autistic kid to come through Burns Middle and maybe even the school system," Peggy said.

While social skills don't come easily, Scott's ability to draw and paint comes naturally.

"The first time we noticed it was a drawing of the Berenstein Bears mom," Sylvester said. "It was on thick paper, and at first I thought he'd traced it, until I noticed he couldn't have. I took to Peggy and said ‘Look at this.'

"When I saw the possibilities, I knew God gave him a voice through his paintings."

Scott's love of art is something his parents have tried to help grow. He took art in middle school and high school and is currently studying with Sally Jacobs at Cleveland Community College.

Scott likes to paint people and places, "Anything with shadows and light," Sylvester said. He paints both from photographs and from images in his mind.

Currently Scott's works are on display at Buffalo Creek Gallery in uptown Shelby. The exhibit will remain up through March 12.

"Scott entered Arts on the Square last year and won," said Ginger Spangler, a fellow painter and a member artist with Buffalo Creek. "Dianne Garner wanted him to be one of our visiting artists. I thought ‘I want to meet this
kid.'"

Other artists have taken an interest in Scott as well. Several visited with him at the opening reception for his exhibit.

Scott's artwork gives him a sense of self-sufficiency, his parents said, and raises awareness about autism.

"It will let other people know that children with autism do have a talent hidden inside," Peggy said.

Scott has another exhibit coming up March 14 at the Cleveland County Arts Council. His next project, Peggy said, is painting a portrait of the Obama family.

"We don't know how, but we're going to get it to him," she said.