HOULTON, Maine — For years, Cynthia Spellman created elaborate drawings that she shared only with her closest family members.
Now, Spellman, 27, of Hodgdon has developed the courage to share her work with complete strangers.
Spellman — a self-taught artist who is autistic, has Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and a compulsive disorder — held the first public showing of her work Monday afternoon at Wired Cafe in downtown Houlton as part of the Living Innovations second annual Traveling Art Show.
A sample piece of artwork by Cynthia Spellman. (Joseph Cyr)
“Six months ago, due to her anxiety, Cynthia would have never considered walking into a room filled with strangers or going to an art show,” said Paul Fleming of Living Innovations, an organization that supports people with developmental disabilities. “That changed as she got to know Angelina (Jackman) and Theresa (Shannon), who are two of the people who provide support to Cynthia.”\
Spellman carries sketchbooks with her everywhere she goes, because she never knows when the inspiration will hit her to draw out a scene in her mind. Most of her work is fantasy based, in the Japanese “Manga” style of art made popular by animated shows like “Pokemon.” The characters often are depicted in a storyboard, comic book fashion, with herself as one of the characters.
“I like to draw anime,” Cynthia said. “I always liked cartoons when I was little. Any time I come up with an image I try to draw it.”
“She has always drawn,” Wendy Spellman, Cynthia’s mom said. “But she wouldn’t let anyone see it. We would decorate eggs for Easter and Cynthia would make these beautiful elaborate designs on them.”
Wendy said Cynthia used to draw on regular, lined notebook paper when she was in school, but would always fold it up so people wouldn’t see it.
A 2010 graduate of Hodgdon High School, Cynthia said she likes to listen to music and watch television while she is drawing because it helps her focus. The characters she draws are oftentimes based on her favorite television shows, set to a fantasy, fairy tale theme.
“I just try to do my best,” she said. “I kind of learn as I go.”
“When Cynthia first came here to Living Innovations, she talked about her art quite a bit,” said Jackman, a community living coordinator at Living Innovations. “She wanted to be confident enough to show her art. For her to be able to do some of the things she can do in art, with no real formal training, is amazing.”
Living Innovations, one of the largest community service providers in Maine, is one of the organizers for this year’s Lest We Forget Art Show, Special Celebration of the Arts, which takes place May 28 in the Hall of Flags at the State House. One of Cynthia’s pieces is included in the competition, and is part of a traveling art show that members of the public can vote on.
“It’s the coolest thing,” Wendy said. “It (drawing) just happens and really comes to life. I am so proud of her. What she is doing, how far she has come, and how talented she is … she’s beautiful.”
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- A sample work of art by Cynthia Spellman. (Joseph Cyr)
