Meet some of my friends who also make art.
From time to time we will feature the work of guest artists.
Summer 2025
Zoe is an abstract artist who communicates through his Artwork. He has started his own art business with a mission to promote awareness of Down Syndrome and advocate for Inclusion. His work is bright, colorful, and full of loose brushstrokes which distinguishes his individualist and very unique style.
Zoe’s artwork has been exhibited in many art galleries and fairs in the USA. It has been sold in different places around the world.
How It All Started…
Zoe’s speech challenges during his adolescence led him to look for alternative ways to communicate. After trying different tools, one day he suddenly grabbed some old brushes from his mom’s home atelier. He began painting and discovered his passion for Abstract Art.
He has never stopped painting since then.
Website: www.zart21.com
Instagram: @zartextra21
Instagram: @diamondsbyalessia
Spring 2025
My name is Alessia Bruni. I’m a diamond artist from Toronto, Canada. I’m 37 years old and I’ve done art all my life. I love dancing, reading, acting, going out with my friends, listening to music, and anything to do with sparkle!
This is why I think diamond art was meant for me. I love coming home, putting on my music and working on one of my paintings. It’s a pretty tedious task. I place each diamond one by one. A lot of people ask how I have so much patience! But that’s what I love about it. It’s really relaxing and satisfying for me. What I love most about diamond art is the final product.
I love to give my art to people as gifts and see their faces light up when I give it to them. I recently did a large diamond painting for my cousin and his new wife for their wedding. It was a giant portrait of them made completely of diamonds. They cried when they saw it. I also did one for my work, a large black and white sign with our logo ‘The Coffee Shed.’ Each piece takes me a long time, but I see it as a labour of love. My dream is to do more diamond paintings. I want to sell them to people all around the world. Then, their rooms can sparkle with my art.
Winter 2025
Patty Giancursio is a Toronto-based artist known for her vibrant acrylic and watercolor paintings.
Passionate about community engagement, she actively participates in art-related activities that foster creativity and connection.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Patty is dedicated to fitness and swimming, setting ambitious goals to enhance her skills in both art and personal health for 2025.
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Instagram: @Pattybella58
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PattyGiancursio
Email: Pattybella58@hotmail.com
Store:
https://artfully-joe.myshopify.com
Bonanza Booth:
bonanza.com/booths/ArtfullyJoe
Instagram: @artfullyjoe
TikTok: @theartfullyjoe
Facebook: Joe Baker Artfully Joe
X: @artfullyjoe
Inquiries – Colleen Baker: capb67@gmail.com
Fall 2024
My Story-Joe Baker
As many people with Autism, I found my passion as a young kid. It was Art, especially ink drawing. I also use gouache and colored pencil in some of my work. My high school experience was cut short due to Epilepsy but, I graduated from Patriot High School in Virginia in 2019! In 2020, while COVID kept everyone at home, my mom and I designed a home art studio, creating my small business, ARTFULLY JOE. I am selling my Art on Shopify and Bonanza. I am always accepting commissions. My mom, Colleen Baker, is my manager.
Currently we ship within the United States but will be expanding soon!
Summer 2024
I’m Ella Evenson and I am 15. I have Mosaic Down Syndrome which is a rare type of Down Syndrome. I have scoliosis and it makes my back ache.
I live in Birmingham, UK with my mum, Dad, brother and our labrador, Milo. At school I enjoy hospitality and catering and production arts. I volunteer at our Brownies, helping the girls 7-10 years. I started my own befriending session 18 months ago. I befriend an elderly lady and we chat about our week and play games. I also volunteer at a care home, and I chat to the residents, make tea and coffee and set the tables for lunch. I love going to our local park and my favourite is the zip wire and outdoor gym. I love cycling in the park and taking Milo, our Labrador for walks. I swim every Sunday, it’s my favourite sport. I really like seeing my friends outside school. We meet up for bowling, crazy golf, cinema and picnics in the park.
I had my first art exhibition which was local in February 2020 and it was so much fun. I sold original paintings and prints. I also had an art stall, raising money for NSPCC, that was really great. I have sold paintings and prints, raising money for Down Syndrome Awareness month and for the Australian Bush Fire Appeal. In 2021 I exhibited my artwork with Birmingham Open Studios and had a lovely time meeting talented artists and I sold lots of artwork. I have sold many commissioned artworks all over the world. I enjoy painting special artwork for my clients.
I have always loved painting, but I really started in the summer holidays 2019 at our kitchen table and have never stopped. I now paint in my art studio at a big art table with music on and my mum chats with me. I really enjoy abstract painting with acrylic paints because I paint with different things like a sponge, a plastic knife, plastic card, tin foil and it’s fun to see what the painting will look like. I also love painting with watercolour paints to paint loose watercolour flowers.
I have done online art workshops for children with special needs and that is so much fun. I really like planning the artwork and practising, so I do my best for the children. I have designed mini artworks and turned them into pendants, and I also design handmade greeting cards. I would like to have my own Etsy shop to sell my creations.
When I am older, I would like to use my passion for painting in a care home as an activity assistant or in a nursery or infant school as an assistant. I will always paint in my art studio, selling what I create because I love seeing my artwork in homes around the world.
Instagram: @artist.ella.rou
Email: ellarou3@gmail.com
Instagram: @phoenixblades.art
Spring 2024
My name is Jayson Tench. I was born with Cerebral Palsy and autism. I love being creative. I dabbled with painting off and on over the years, however, growing up, I was told that because of the cerebral palsy, my painting would never get me anywhere, so I stopped.
Several years ago, I was inspired by a friend and local author Sandra Wilson to try again. She introduced me to an online teacher, Michelle, the Painter from Berkshire Paint and Sip, and I have been painting every day since. Art has become my happy place and has brought me so much healing from my past.
Through my art, l want to show the world that while one is physically disabled, one can be artly abled. I hope anyone, adult or child, can be inspired to create in whatever form they choose.
My own journey has led to collaborating with Sandra on my very first book as an illustrator, The Gnomes of the Round Mushroom, a book on teaching kids virtues. Since then, we have created a second book; Manny’s Flight, about following your dreams. Manny was inspired by a friend of ours who has Spina Bifida. Both books can be found on Amazon:
The Gnomes of the Round Mushroom USA or Canada
Manny’s Flight USA or Canada
You can see more of my artwork on Instagram at phoenixblades.art.
Winter 2024
Throughout its 25 years, H’art Centre, located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, has offered an opportunity for neurodivergent adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and those facing barriers to participate in the arts throughout their lives and as they age. H’art Studio participants collaborate with community artists, H’art staff, and volunteers to study, create, and produce works in the arts, fully exploring their talents and imagination.
Andrew, Chris, Mandy, Phillip, Sarah, and Troy are some H’art artists invested in the visual arts. Each has their own art style: Andrew draws with confident lines and bold colours; Chris loves portraying her friends; Mandy enjoys colours and painting rainbows; Philip is great at drawing model characters inspired by movies and games; Sarah pays close attention to details; Troy’s works are often inspired by nature.
These artworks, along with many others done by H’art participants, are showcased annually at local and national events. These opportunities give H’art artists a chance to communicate with other like-minded members of the community, engage with each other’s ideas, and further explore their artistic talents.
H’art Centre also provides music, dance and theatre workshops delivered by professional artists that attend our award winning MIXabilities Inclusive Arts Training to enable them to truly engage the participants. In April of 2024, we will debut our opera-inspired performance “Happy” at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
Visit our website at www.hartcentre.ca or call (613) 545-1392 for more information!
Website: www.hartcentre.ca
Phone: (613) 545-1392
Instagram: @alankarguptaa
Facebook: Alankar Gupta
Website: Atypical Advantage
Fall 2023
I am Alankar Gupta, a 26-year-old adult from the northernmost state of India, Jammu & Kashmir. I live with my parents. My sister lives away from home for work. I meet my family and friends over weekends for movies and picnics. I am a fun and nature-loving person. I enjoy life and love everyone around me. I love sports. I have been a Special Olympics Bharat athlete over the past 6 years and was selected as a National Athlete Input Council member in 2020. I also love to dance and workout in the gym.
I developed an interest in making acrylic flow art paintings during the COVID lockdown, which I learned from YouTube and attended some online workshops. I have successfully sold over 150 of them, including customized products such as coffee mugs and a new year calendar. I take commissions on personalized orders as well. I dream of someday opening my own art studio, leading an independent life, and supporting myself financially. I want to travel with my family and dream of going to Mount Kailash in Nepal.
To conclude, I’d like to share my message to all. I want people to not see us differently or as any less. But at the same time, try to create an inclusive society where all abilities are considered at par.
I look forward to more acceptance from people around me and access to education, medical, and social support for all people with learning disabilities.
Summer 2023
Art at DANI started as a small program with a big vision—to harness the transformative power of art to foster self-expression, personal growth, and community engagement. Over the years, this modest endeavor has blossomed into a thriving initiative that not only empowers our participants, but also resonates profoundly with the community at large.
At its core, the DANI art program seeks to tap into the therapeutic and developmental benefits of art-making. Participants are given the tools and guidance to express their unique perspectives, cultivating both their artistic talents and their self-confidence. This creative journey often results in profound personal growth, as participants discover new ways of expressing themselves and interpreting the world around them.
Our Annual Art Show has become a much-anticipated event that exemplifies the transformative power of art education. It’s an opportunity for the DANI participants to proudly showcase their work, and for the community to celebrate and support their accomplishments. Over the years, the event has grown in scope and impact, evolving into a vibrant celebration of creativity, resilience, and the human spirit.
This year, 2023, marks the 10th Annual Art Show—a testament to the enduring impact of the DANI art program. With the theme “Dreams of Africa”, the event invites us all on a vibrant journey of imagination and exploration, revealing the depth of our participants’ talents. Beyond an exhibition, the show encapsulates the transformative journey each artist has taken—making it a celebration of not just art, but the artists themselves, their dreams, their growth, and their incredible resilience.
Website: dani-toronto.com
Instagram: @dani_toronto
Facebook: danitoronto
Instagram: @sidestreet.art
Facebook: @sidestreet.art
Email: SideStreetArtXO@gmail.com
Spring 2023
Talia and Gayla, daughter and mom, love to make art together. Sometimes they work collaboratively on a single piece, other times they work side-by-side on their own pieces.
For Talia, making art is soothing. For Gayla, it carries her to a place unrestricted by time and untethered from responsibility. Both enjoy the feeling of being completely absorbed in the exploration of materials and discovery of what’s possible.
When not making art, Talia likes to trike, hike, climb, swim, play board games, do puzzles, and listen to music. Gayla enjoys baking, mountain biking, gravel riding, and winter hiking.
Talia and Gayla follow Rita on IG. They love when her artwork pops up in their feed and are delighted to be part of her art friends circle.
Winter 2023
Joel has developed his own unique artistic perspective, which was encouraged by his Mom from a young age. His art has always brought joy to all who see it. In addition to his artistic endeavours, Joel also loves to cook and is proud to have achieved his Kitchen Steward Certificate from Algonquin College.
The two years of COVID were difficult for Joel, as his long-time kitchen job and all his other in-person programs were discontinued. However, he took that opportunity to spend more time on his art and was encouraged to launch his Art By J Positive store in February 2022. This has given Joel a newfound sense of pride.
Although Joel and Rita live in different cities, it is exciting to be connected with Rita via Instagram and to encourage one another’s artistic exploration. Joel is so very grateful to be considered one of Rita’s friends.
Website: artbyjpositive.com
Instagram: @artbyjpositive
Facebook: Art By J Positive
Website: www.larchelondon.ca
Phone: (519) 652-9778
Fall 2022
L’Arche London is a community of inclusion. We build relationships through everyday life moments. We sing together, we eat together, we ‘Art’ together.
L’Arche London runs both online and in-person Art classes, allowing people of all abilities to express themselves through personal-preferred art mediums.
These pieces of varied art are typically created together to make one. It is a concept we have chosen to call ‘Art Around Table,’ where all participants contribute their creativity to a larger masterpiece. These become our community-engaged art for everyone to enjoy.
Phone: (807) 407-5660
Email: arts.hub@outlook.com
Facebook: Art Hub Kenora
Instagram: @kaclartshub
Summer 2022
The Arts Hub is project of the Kenora Association for Community Living. We host gatherings in Kenora, Ontario to help citizens in community connect around the activities that bring them joy and delight. Our mission is to welcome each person’s gifts and individuality through meaningful relationships in resilient, connected communities where we all belong. Watch our video to find out more!
Spring 2022
Miriam and Rita became friends in a shared art class. They discovered not only do they have a passion for art but are the same age. Miriam’s love of art has spanned a number of years and she pays careful attention to creating masterpieces for others. Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, even Groundhog Day are all good reasons to celebrate and get busy making a creation or two.
She is a young woman of many talents. She is a pianist, hiker, music lover, fitness buff, equestrian. Art is, however, top of the list. Life is one big canvas and we should throw as much paint as possible on it.
Winter 2022
Carolyn and Rita have been friends for many years, attending DANI together, dancing together in an adaptive dance program and hanging out on Zoom making art over the past year or two.
Carolyn loves to do laundry and in fact uses “The Laundry Expert” in her signature line. When she is not doing laundry or busy at a program, Carolyn loves to make art independently. She is talented at sketching, designing, painting, collaging and really enjoys working with all types of media. She is a very outgoing young lady who is a whiz with computers and apps.
