March 31, 2008 — It looked almost difficult for 15-year-old Jaanai Forbes to suppress her smile as she dabbed her paintbrush onto her paper. She was feeling inspired by Lucinda Schutt-O'Connell's instruction to be daring.
Jaanai said O'Connell taught her that she could be creative, and she didn't have to stick to the colors featured in the photograph she was rendering after all.
"Instead of blue, I can use purple and a little bit of yellow to make it more bright," Jaanai explained. "I've been drawing since I was small, since I was only three or four."
Jaanai was one of seven special-needs children who came to the V.I. Christian Ministries center in Bolongo for a weekly art lesson. O'Connell said her program is sponsored by the Excellence in Developmental Disabilities program of the University of the Virgin Islands. It's open to special-needs children and is running every Saturday between 1 and 3 p.m. through May 3. This is the forth time since 2005 that she's offered the program, which can support up to 15 children.
"I'm hoping to give them tools and teach them how to create and paint and hopefully show these kids that they can take it to the next level and make a career out of art," O'Connell explained. She's been living and doing fine arts in the Virgin Islands for 20 years and formerly owned the Blue Turtle Gallery.
For those children whose abilities are confining, O'Connell's commitment remains intact. One young boy was unable to hold a crayon, but an assistant stayed by his side and drew some illustrations for him, leaving the child delighted.
"It brings so much happiness to them," O'Connell explained. "Just to see the smiles on the faces and giving them a little joy; it's what life's about."
O'Connell stopped by a table where a 17-year-old boy was drawing masterful illustrations of monsters and game animals.
"Are you pleased with what you have," she asked him before gathering up his pencil drawing of a pumpkin-headed monster.
"Yup!" he responded confidently.
"Do you want to ground this piece with some color?" O'Connell queried.
"No, but I think I'll add a grave," he responded, then picked up his pencil, sketched a gravestone, etched it with "R.I.P" and declared, "OK!"
At a nearby table, Sybille Sorrentino sat with her 12-year-old son on her lap, coaching him through a drawing of his teddy bear.
"It's great!" she said of the program. "I think it's outstanding that people in the community are willing to improve the lives of special-needs kids."
According to the 17-year old illustrator, it's important that he and his peers not be deemed incapable.
"In this world, you can't judge people on the way they look or their complexion," he said. "We are all beautiful in god's eyes."
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