The opportunity StarArt has afforded Will has been phenomenal. He seeks the chance to incorporate his interests in his artwork, and one of his continuing interests has always been stars. He loves the American flag with its bright, colorful star design and finds starts in the community wherever he is. Will's artistic ability to use accurate perspective in his three-dimensional drawings and projects gives him an avenue to communicate this to others. His fascination for stars was really the inspiration for this project and his love of art was the motivation.

Will is very much an artist/designer at heart and puts an enormous amount of thought into all of his projects. When we first introduced the opportunity, he made an immediate connection that was thrilling. He couldn't put down the books we had collected for ideas, and poured over each page. One particular selection included lyrics, and he spontaneously burst into joyful song as he "studied the stars". We knew he had struck a chord.

Will discovered new things about stars through visits to the library and places he loves within the community. The Lied Center, Pershing Auditorium and the State Capitol all boast stars in their design. Then he incorporated these experiences into his drawings, and laced each picture with perspective and color. One drawing stood out as his clear favorite, which he chose for his mosaic. He had to exhibit much self-control with behaviors in order to complete this creative process.

One gift of autism for us has been the honest, unabashed display of basic emotions, and this experience has been no different. Our son has truly felt so much enthusiasm for this process that his motivation and patience was amazing. To watch him glow with genuine pride and self-satisfaction after creating the proposal was priceless.

This project was much more than a piece of artwork; it was a way for a young boy to communicate his interests and talents with others, and give them a glimpse into his creative mind.