Local artist creates his first calendar

Art has always played a large role in Joe Williams’ life.

When he was young he and his family used it to help him deal with the anxiety caused by loud noises, crowded rooms and other stimuli as the result of his autism.

Williams was diagnosed with autism, a complex neurobiological condition that can affect the normal functions of the gastrointestinal, immune, hepatic, endocrine and nervous systems. It impacts normal brain development leaving most individuals with communication problems, difficulty with typical social interactions and a tendency to repeat specific patterns of behaviour. There is also a markedly restricted repertoire of activities and interests. When he was five he was diagnosed as moderate, but through various treatments and art he is now considered to be mild on the scale. The term “spectrum” refers to a continuum of severity or developmental impairment.

However, art has become more than a coping mechanism for Williams — it is his passion, one that he hopes to turn into a career.

Williams recently completed the artwork for his first calendar, which is currently for sale, with partial proceeds going towards Blue Heron Support Services Association, Barrhead Public Library, Barrhead Art Club, Ripple Connection Support Centre and Calgary and Edmonton Autism.

“It is actually a colour-your-own calendar,” Joe said, adding all the pictures in the 12-month 2018 calendar use animal characters that he has dressed up in some way to depict what is usually a scene from Canada’s history.

He and his mother Shirley are also in the process of self-publishing a book, something that has taken more than three years to complete.

The book is a chapter book for children from grades four to nine called the Dragon and the Princess.

“It’s a faith based classic fairy tale with a twist,” said Shirley, who added the writing to Joe’s illustrations and ideas.

“The villain’s name is Thunderblade and he is a dark overlord who wants to take over the whole land,” Joe added. “So it is up to Annabelinda, a kindhearted dragon, and Claire, a princess, to defeat him and his ogre army.”

Something that the dragon knows will not be easy, so she endeavors to train the princess to become a warrior.

“Along the way they discover things that were forgotten for hundreds of years, including an old fortress, but I don’t want to give too much away so people will have to get the book to find out more, I think they will like it.”

In addition to the calendar and book, Joe is also working on a graphic novel and hopes to become a digital animator something he has been interested in since 2013 when he had a chance to attend a digital summer camp where he created a 3-D tyrannosaurus rex.

“It is so detailed. It took him weeks to do because of the complexity and all the detail. Everything had to be sketched using this special computer software, including underneath the dinosaur where no one would see, except because it is digital people can rotate it to every angle so everything had to be complete,” Shirley said, noting he won the Alberta Community Art Clubs Association (ACACA) top award for digital art.

But that is not something that surprised her.

“I always knew he had talent, especially drawing,” Shirley said, adding unfortunately not everyone agreed. “When Joe was in Grade 10 the art teacher actually flunked him.”

As a result Shirley enroled her son in Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ALDC) art courses where he excelled.

In addition to courses at the ALDC Joe studies art judiciously using online videos. He credits the VeggieTales videos as being especially helpful.

“He has an amazing memory,” Shirley said. “All he has to is watch something once or twice and he knows it. That combined with his incredible imagination has allowed him do create so many wonderful pieces.”

Although the calendar and book are mostly outlets for Joe’s creativity, Shirley admits the other motive is money — not only as a fundraiser for the organizations that have helped Joe over the years, but to raise money for his treatment.

“There is a huge cost involved in autism treatment and he needs to continue them so that he can continue to thrive,” she said.

Locally Joe’s calendar is available at Blue Heron Support Services Association, Ripple Connection Support Services, as well at the Barrhead Public Library. People can also contact Shirley at [email protected] or 780-294-8505 for more information. The Dragon and the Princess book will be available, depending on the printer, in either late December or early January at the same locations.