“Like the journey of life, my art is a collage of experiences as reflected in the various colors. When I am drawing, I can think things through and work things out. Art helps make things right.”

Jennifer Ann Thomas, who was born with mosaic Down syndrome, took art classes while a student at Concord-Carlisle High School under the tutelage of Renee Covalucci. "Her belief in me and my art motivated me to actively pursue my artwork," she relays. Covalucci, who is presently curator of the Art Institute of Boston, recognized Jennifer’s striking technique and provided early guidance to continue her art form. Working with acid-free materials and Prismacolor products, Jennifer creates large drawings composed of abstract color using thousands of short, bold strokes that are approximately one inch long. Erupting from both intuition and spontaneity, the patterned lines undulate through a laborious composition that takes approximately six months to complete. The time-consuming process provides validation and self-conviction in the end. "Being recognized makes me feel good about myself, and my artwork is one thing that brings me recognition." To further refine her skills, Jennifer began private art lessons from Joy Buell, an art instructor at Tufts University. She is presently expanding her designs using different media including paint, fabric, wood, and clay.

Roller Coaster of Life, mixed media (32" x 24")