This sketch is chock full of information. I began by sketching a photo taken in 1960 on a camping trip, of me and my two brothers standing aside my parents’ 1957 Chevy. I was looking for old photographs that depicted Mike, my autistic brother, in a cheerful mood. I know there were fun times, but those are not the feelings that come up naturally when I think of Mike. My trouble drawing a smiling Michael is probably connected to my thinking of him as someone unknowable.

I incorporated an old snapshot of Mike on a seesaw. He was smiling in the photo. I remember that my younger brother Dave, Mike and I played Ring-Around-the-Rosie on one of our camping trips as children. When we were all supposed to fall down, I jumped on Mike to make him fall. I think he was laughing when I reached out to help him up (Note – this is how I remember it now). (I wrote about a paradoxical reaction to these memories here.) In times more recent than childhood photos I attended a Halloween party given by Mike’s group home and saw him having fun in his King of Hearts costume. That was a wonderful day.

I’m pleased to end this series with memories of Mike being happy.

Please visit my Etsy shop for my artwork for sale inspired by my autistic brother Mike at: 

https://autisminspiredart.etsy.com

My other artwork for sale is at: 

https://otherartbyjack.etsy.com