Size: 16" x 12" and framed to 21" x 17"

Medium: A combination of watercolor, gouache, and acrylic

Description: "The Joy She Sees," is inspired by Lovie's mom when describing one of Lovie's most defining characteristics: the joyful way she sees the world. She shared the difference in typical "childhood joy" in comparison to the pure and very rare joy that Lovie experiences, and also gives to the world. The joy that Lovie sees in and gives to the world makes it a better place. This abstract landscape painting is inspired by Lovie's joy, with a realistic foreground that the viewer would experience behind her, contrasting with a bright and colorful landscape from Lovie's viewpoint. The view from Lovie's eyes is meant to convey the joy that Lovie sees in and brings to the world.

Size: 18" x 24" landscape

Medium: Gouache on canvas board

Description: After meeting with the family about their challenges raising a son with special needs, I kept thinking that trees would be a good source of inspiration-- specifically how trees grow in extraordinary circumstances and how this affects their growth. There is a forest in Poland called "Crooked Tree" forest that I came across in my research, but I dismissed it because my impression was that they were a beautiful family, and from first impressions others may not realize that they were extraordinary ("special"). So I chose to represent a typical landscape with typical trees but with enhanced coloration to symbolize the special nature of raising a child on the spectrum.