GAP Spotlight: Meet Casey, A Spiritual Artist Who Gives Back to the Community

Casey, GAP Program Member

“Dance like nobody’s watching, Love like you’ve never been hurt, Sing like nobody’s listening and Live like it’s heaven on earth”

I really like this quote because it brings inspiration, happiness, joy, peace and a life that’s filled with gratitude and individualism, not only with my art, but to who I am as a person. Since I am very in touch with God and have a close relationship with him, I believe he shines through me, and in my presence of how I treat others and myself. I truly believe Jesus healed me and has brought a huge amount of peace to me in the hospital and saved me from the vast darkness of the path I was on in my past life. I believe through the diagnosis of autism. I feel relieved to know that all my life, I was struggling socially, and couldn’t understand why. And it feels great to know that even though I am autistic, and may be different I’m not less, or should be treated differently than anybody else.

I started painting about 3 years ago. What inspires my artwork is the happiness I have in my life, my own ideas, other famous artists, nature, love that comes from the inside of my soul, and my strong spiritual connection to God. Painting brings a lot of calmness to my soul as well as happiness and strength. I can paint for 5-6 hours at a time and feel completely free and happy. During my hospitalization, I one day started drawing and coloring butterflies with crayons and colored pencils, since its all I had at the time. I don’t know why I painted a butterfly specifically, but I would draw a lot of them. After being released from the hospital I was soon after diagnosed with autism. The symbol for autism is a butterfly, which is one of the reasons why I truly believe that Jesus and God was apart of that journey. Before however I was hospitalized I painted with watercolor which is my medium of choice which looking back, I thought was interesting. I think it may have been a sign. After finishing my watercolor class this semester, for my final project I painted a butterfly on a flower to represent the journey and chapter of my life, of growing, learning, health, and joy.

I started a watercolor class in 2012 before I was hospitalized for several months at UCLA. I don’t remember exactly why I wanted to take the class looking back, but I remember I loved art in high school and I did take one acrylic class, and thought after getting my associates degree from Monterey Peninsula College, I felt I wanted to take an art class, and saw watercolor and thought it would be cool to take a different medium. You can see more of my artwork on my Facebook page. You can see work I did from my Watercolor class this Spring, and my Personal Collection. I have sold several pieces and have gotten credit from an artist. My personal motto is, “Let your faith be bigger than your fear.”

When school is out of session, I like to be at the Gap Program. With GAP, I enjoy volunteering at the Salvation Army in the office, at We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym and Meals on Wheels. The GAP Program helps me with having better social skills and independent life skills, if you live at home or if you decide to live on your own. It has helped me greatly. I also enjoy volunteering at my church Mosaic and Bible Study with my friend Ronit. I also enjoy helping to serve food, water and clothes to the homeless in downtown LA. Besides all that, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, hiking, American Sign Language lessons and hanging out with my friend Brianna. Some nights I go to hear Marianne Williamson speak. I love watching movies, and enjoying my life to the fullest.

I can say I am very grateful, and love my life completely, and very happy.

If you would like to learn more about Casey’s artwork, or would like to purchase a piece of Casey work, please click here to write us an email. 100% of your donation will go to Casey. (prices around $40)