All of us wear (often uncomfortable, ill-fitting masks), but the masks society tells autistic people to wear degrades their authenticity and ability to recognize and be themselves.

Chris Bonnello is an author, activist, and autism advocate. Together, we discussed neurodivergency through the artwork Mask the Decay by Mitch Christian.

Chris talks about how autistic masking feels for him, radical acceptance, his writing journey, and what the world is missing out on by asking autistic people to deny their full selves.

Artwork Options

Links Mentioned

• Autistic Not Weird – Website, Facebook
• Underdogs Books
• Chris Bonnello – Website
• UK’s First Non-Binary Priest
• The Art of Autism
• Josh Kreitzman on TikTok and Instagram
• Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

The post Authenticity Unmasked: Celebrating and Reflecting on Autism Through Art with Chris Bonnello appeared first on Cindy Ingram | Artist. Coach. Creative Soul Guide..

They say that those who can’t do teach. Unsurprisingly, teachers hate that phrase. It isn’t true. And yet, for so much of my life, I believed it.

I have artistic talent. I’m creative. But I never thought my work was going to hang in a museum. I never thought I could make a career from my art. I couldn’t even get an “A” in an art class where my teacher praised the effort I put into my work.

I could be an art teacher, but I would never be an artist.

When I would hear other art teachers or my own students downplay their creations and insist that they weren’t artist, I’d be the first to speak up. “Of course you’re an artist! You’re making art!”

But not me. I’m not an artist. I resisted the label mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. My version of being an artist wasn’t worthy.

But something has shifted. I’m finally learning what it means to be an artist and to live my life as an artist. It’s playful, risky, experimental. It’s not about being good. It’s about the process.

Through the magic of attention, daily practice, and community, I’ve opened myself up to what the world has to teach me.

And that is why my 2023 Word of the Year is ARTIST. Join me on this year-long journey of connection and creativity as I share my insights on what it means to live life as an artist.

If you’d like to experience the magic of making art in community, join me in The Creativity Cocoon.

Links Mentioned

• The Creativity Cocoon
• Art and Self on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

The post Word of the Year Update #1 – Why I Was Inspired To Choose “ARTIST” as My 2023 Word of the Year appeared first on Cindy Ingram | Artist. Coach. Creative Soul Guide..