‘Feeling alien’ is commonly reported as a characteristic by people on the autism spectrum, referring metaphorically to social communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities and other characteristics which cause the feeling of being an outsider. Importantly, a feeling of being ‘special’ or ‘alien-like’ may raise the chances of a diagnosis, especially for female-assigned people, due to the difficulty in identifying other more indicative traits. Everyone in the spectrum is different, which is the main reasoning behind the varied figures illustrated in my outcome.
The necessity to both create understanding amongst the general public and to facilitate self-discovery is the driving force for my work. In such a way, illustration has the potency to evoke empathy and understanding, to shine a light in the darkness so that we may more easily see the truth. Painting with colour has always been a therapeutic process for myself and a source of enthusiasm. Inspired by the stylings of art brut as well as such artists as Rembrandt and the contemporary James Jean, my work has a sensitive, painterly quality to evoke strong feelings in the observer. I aspire to create socially-conscious work and to use my knowledge, technique and experience to provide outcomes which sensitively communicate issues relating to disability, for disabled people.
Adroddir ‘teimlo fel dieithryn’ yn gyffredin fel nodwedd gan bobl sydd ar y sbectrwm awtistiaeth, gan gyfeirio’n drosiadol at anawsterau cyfathrebu cymdeithasol, sensitifrwydd synhwyraidd a nodweddion eraill sy’n achosi’r teimlad o fod ar y tu allan. Mae’n bwysig y gall teimlad o fod yn ‘arbennig’ neu ‘fel dieithryn’ godi’r cyfle o gael diagnosis, yn enwedig ar gyfer pobl fenywaidd oherwydd yr anhawster wrth adnabod nodweddion eraill sy’n fwy dangosol. Mae pawb ar y sbectrwm yn wahanol, sef y prif resymu y tu ôl i’r ffigurau amrywiol a ddangosir yn fy nghanlyniad.
Grym ysgogol fy ngwaith yw’r angen am greu dealltwriaeth ymysg y cyhoedd a hwyluso hunan-ddarganfod. Yn y fath ffordd, mae gan ddarlunio y potensial i ennyn empathi a dealltwriaeth, taflu goleuni ar y tywyllwch er mwyn i ni weld y gwirionedd yn fwy hwylus. Mae paentio gyda lliw bob amser wedi bod yn broses therapiwtig i fy hun ac yn ffynhonnell brwdfrydedd. Mae gan fy ngwaith, a ysbrydolir gan arddulliau art brut yn ogystal â’r fath artistiaid â Rembrandt ac yn y byd cyfoes, James Jean, naws sensitif ac arluniol i ennyn teimladau cryfion yn yr arsylwr. Rwy’n dyheu am greu gwaith sy’n ymwybodol yn gymdeithasol a defnyddio fy ngwybodaeth, techneg a phrofiad i ddarparu canlyniadau sy’n cyfathrebu materion gysylltiedig ag anableddau mewn ffordd sensitif ar gyfer pobl anabl.
