Autistic artist finds her audience

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By Chris Bavender

If you want to know what Kristen Wise dreams about you don’t have to look any further than her art.

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“I dream about them and then just wake up and draw the things I imagined – other worldly things,” the 22-year-old said. “Then I take that small painting and transfer it to a huge canvas.”

But Wise isn’t your typical artist … she’s autistic and suffers from bipolar disorder.

“When you are bipolar you have really lucid dreams, and I believe that influences her some,” explained Elane Johnson, Wise’s mom. “She has just always had an affinity for this incredible art – it’s just wild she can do this.’

This month, some of Wise’s art is featured in Branches magazine, a free magazine distributed around Indiana.

“I saw that they took submissions and they were very interested in her art,” Johnson said.

For Wise, knowing her art is being seen around the state means a lot.

“I wouldn’t say that I am not a social person but I don’t get out a lot so for that to be in the magazine – wow,” she said. “Knowing people might recognize me and say ‘Hey, you are that girl that did those paintings,’ is nice. I want to be recognized as the autistic artist – I think it’s something special, and my art deserves to be seen.”

Wise has been expressing herself through art since she was a young child but it wasn’t until she was 14 that she did her first huge canvas – a 30-inch by 40 -inch piece. She is especially fond of ocean life as subject matters.

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“I have wild fantasies about different planets and stuff – I always wonder what creations are on those that aren’t on this one,” Wise said. “Like the painting I am working on now is what I imagine life is like under the ocean, in a deep, deep part no one has ever seen.”

Wise always starts on a small scale – usually an 8 ½-inch by 11-inch scale.

“Then I just look at that and blow it up in my mind so to speak and then draw it out in pencil on the large canvas,” she said. “It takes several months to finish since it is on such a large scale.”

But painting isn’t the only way Wise puts her talent to work. She also creates imaginative tiny sculptures. From graduation themed pieces – complete with a cap and gown and diploma – to a bird perched on a branch and grilling worms – her pieces bring a smile.

“I’d love to be able to find someone who could manufacture those in resin so they are more durable,” Johnson said. “Then the idea would be to market them and start a whole line.”

But, for now, Wise’s art can be found for sale on her blog – www.lovethatart.blogspot.com.


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