A personal exploration of autism from a brother’s perspective, including family relationships, philosophy, neuroscience, mental health history and ethics
I concentrated on the mural in this iteration of the series. I took liberties with colors (since the source photo is in black and white) and the design, since it was a bit small in the original.
Texaco at Lafayette and Bond, NYC (3/8) (1989) Meditation Series Watercolor Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
I was again plowing through my old photos in search of something interesting and came upon a photo of a gas station in Manhattan. The year was 1989. The gas price was 137.9. Those were the days. The mural was another surprise. I can’t wait to improvise on the colors (the photo was black and white).
Texaco at Lafayette and Bond, NYC (1/8) (1989) Meditation Series Pen and Ink Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
Here is the progression of my meditations, starting with the pen and ink theme in the upper-left position. The final couple of sketches are abstract, riffs on the original sketch.
Watching the Parking Lot in LA Sketches 1-8 (2021) Meditation Series Watercolor, Pen and Ink Sketches
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
Today’s sketch makes use of various elements of the original theme, but is quite a departure from its structure. This composition is an introspection rather than outward look at a parking lot.
Watching the Parking Lot in LA (8/8) (2021) Meditation Series Watercolor Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
The graffiti and storefront walls are in the same plane in this watercolor variation of the original theme of this series. The anthropomorphic windows were inspired by one of Jacques Tati’s movies (I don’t remember which one, but if you get a chance check out his filmography). There is a connection between the two realms depicted here by the creeping ivy.
Watching the Parking Lot in LA (7/8) (2021) Meditation Series Watercolor Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
After a conversation with my brother Dave, I was inspired to take my variations on a theme to the next level. First, I replaced the face on the mural and made the eye direct the viewers’ attention. The arrow from the parking sign is an obvious directional symbol, acting in concert with the eye. There are hold overs from the reference sketch, such as the brown awning, the foliage from the tree and the graffiti. This was a lot of fun to do.
Watching the Parking Lot in LA (6/8) (2021) Meditation Series Watercolor Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
The focal point of this sketch is the mural and parking arrow. The washed pen and ink sketchy part of the scene is another dimension. The mural on the side of the building is becoming more of a face and less of a part of the building, peering out, at the very center of the scene.
Watching the Parking Lot in LA (5/8) (2021) Meditation Series Watercolor, Pen and Ink Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack
This sketch has an amorphous quality. I focused on the parking lot sign and building, enlarging my photo to see as much detail as possible. The partial views of the car and the truck in the foreground does not differ from the mural and graffiti in the background. Only the green leaves of the tree and fence are interposed between them.
Watching the Parking Lot in LA (4/8) (2021) Meditation Series Watercolor Sketch
Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: etsy.com/shop/AutismInspiredArt.
My other artwork for sale is at: Etsy.com/shop/OtherArtbyJack