My sketch below is an abstract portrait of my older brother Michael. Mike is autistic, very low functioning and nonverbal. My eye is peering at him, as I have my whole life, trying to understand.

Several of my earlier posts might better explain (or at least elaborate upon) my lifelong obsession with Mike. As one might imagine, the younger sibling of an autistic individual has much with which to contend, including his or her place in the family constellation, where the center of gravity is necessarily the autistic sibling. Please see some of my earlier posts for a glimpse of what drives my art: Michael, My Older Brother, Depiction of the Mentally Ill, Nonverbality, Low Functioning, Mike and Dad, A Visit to Willowbrook, Empathy Take 1.

Observation
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Block