Young girl finds voice through art

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  With a steady hand, she takes her emotions and puts them on paper in forms of things that interest her, such as animals or her most recent interest, airplanes.

I've been drawing since I was really little," said the soft spoken girl with serious eyes and a curious smile.

At two years old, doctors diagnosed Melanie Green with Autism. Despite the diagnosis Melanie found a way to express her voice within through art.

Melanie, a shy girl who admits that lunch is her favorite part of the school day, exhibited an amazing talent at a very early age.

"She would bring me drawings of things like Barney and baby Bop and I thought she was tracing them," said her mother, Elizabeth. "Then I actually saw her draw the pictures from free-hand and memory, and I knew that this was something special. Three-year olds just don't do that."

Doctors diagnosed Melanie with Autism around the same time her mother noticed her talent. Ms. Green said that although it was very difficult to accept her daughter had a medical condition with no cure, Melanie's art has helped bridge gaps in their relationship.

"I look at her drawings, and from them I learn how certain situations make her feel and what she is thinking, because she cannot always vocalize it." Ms. Green said. Sometimes it is difficult but we are very lucky that she has developed this talent. It really helps us communicate."

Melanie hones her skills at the base youth center, where she waits for her mother to pick her up after school. While there, she interacts with other students or draws pictures for her teachers. There are many of her drawings hung up around the center. In addition, some of her art was recently entered into a collection at the Wayne County Arts Council.

Melanie seems to draw the things she loves, her mother said. She has not had any formal training and her mother hopes she will continue to develop her skills as she gets older. Melanie, on the other hand, would like to be a veterinarian.

Melanie's parents continue to encourage her skill in the hope that as she gets older, it will help her better communicate her feelings with others.