We recently connected with Crissy Stratford and have shared our conversation below.

Crissy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have drawn and been a sketch artist my entire life. My brother (also an artist) and I used to draw comic books for each other. While other kids played sports, Robbie & I would draw. That’s how we played.

I’ve honed my craft over the years, and through my journey became a meticulous detail ink artist. I draw very quickly. This is wonderful for selling commissioned art pieces and advancing my art career!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My son, Chad, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. We tried to engage him and it was VERY difficult. This is where my art ability kicked in! I very quickly began drawing lots of little storybooks with cartoons of Chad himself in them doing things that he liked. He was into these little books as they were very personal to him. Through the books and all the therapies, he began to develop enough language to express his needs.

I continued turning everyday situations into visual art for him. I did this when he started school. Although his language was still limited, he was able to start in general education in our local elementary school with a one-on-one paraprofessional. I began taking his study guides and making visual pictures out of them. The teachers would allow me to draw his tests into pictures instead of using written words. This REALLY helped him in school! I continued doing this during his elementary school years.

I began noticing the amazing work his paraprofessionals did and wanted to try it! So, when Chad was old enough, I became a paraprofessional myself. I worked with Junior High students with special needs and applied the same principles with them that I used with Chad! The teachers I worked with would allow me to draw out my students’ study guides and also turn their written tests into visual art using multiple choice. I got to incorporate my art in my job with these amazing students.

I have retired since, but I had no idea how much I could love a job! I also saw how much art can enhance education in special-needs students and life, in general, for my son and for me!

To me, art is much more than just creating!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I have always loved turning people’s words and thoughts into a drawing. I will and can quickly draw any living thing. This made it easy for me to modify my student’s work depending on what the teacher said. This ALSO makes it easy for me to draw a very detailed piece of commissioned work for a customer! If you can think it, I will draw it. The small detail work is how I draw and just goes along with it.

Helping people turn their thoughts into a visual picture is so much fun and super rewarding for me as an artist!

Contact Info:

• Website: Crissysart.net
• Instagram: Crissy_s_art
• Facebook: Crissy S Art
• Twitter: @crissysart_net
• Email: [email protected]