“My Art Style is Expressive, Bold, and Moving — Like Me.”
A teacher-turned-artist reflects on how her autism and ADHD diagnosis, and the pandemic, changed the trajectory of her life.
Despite studying art and teaching high school art classes, I had long ignored my own need to be visually playful and creative. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 lockdown that I realized that my needs and experiences differed from those of my friends. While others longed to go out and see each other, I felt relieved to be alone in my space with my art supplies and communicate virtually. I didn’t realize that I was accommodating my needs for the first time and creating a sustainable life for myself.
During this time, I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. I wasn’t expected to show up to work or social gatherings due to the pandemic, and that left more space to focus on drawing — something I did for up to 10 hours a day. I made my own schedule, added physical therapy to reduce my chronic pain, adapted my clothing and home to better suit my needs, and engaged in my special interest full time, all of which deepened my relationship with myself.
[Read: ADHD & the Interest-Based Nervous System]
“The illustration I created for the cover of this issue was inspired by movement and repetitive movement, something that autistic people do as a form or regulation and communication. To me, the illustration shows a person spinning in their own world, and I wanted to illustrate the feeling of vestibular movement.”
I started to draw on the computer and eventually moved to an iPad, which allowed me to create works at the speed of my thoughts and impulses. As I began to truly understand my autism, I was able to find a path to the art of illustration.
A friend recommended that I try illustrating articles in magazines and newspapers, and that really sparked my interest. It felt like a perfect way to combine my love for drawing scenes and for creatively telling a story.
[Read: On the Awesomeness of ADHD Creativity]
I also began posting my works online. Viewers’ reactions to my work gave me the confidence to approach retail stores and pitch my designs for greeting cards and prints, and to create more art around storytelling. An art director saw my work at a bookstore and hired me for my first editorial assignment.
All the hours I spent on my special interest helped to develop my skills and allowed me to fully dedicate myself to illustration – and get paid for it. My style is expressive, bold, and moving – a lot like me.
AuDHD Art and Artists: Next Steps
Emcie Turineck, an artist in Montreal, Canada, created the artwork that appears on this issue’s cover.
SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.
