Kids’ Creations: The Art of Having ADHD
Kids diagnosed with ADHD show what it feels like to have the disorder.
Many have speculated that Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso had ADHD. They exhibited many of the classic ADHD characteristics. These famous artists were passionate and creative geniuses with the ability to hyperfocus on their artwork, changing the way the world sees art.
To help spread ADHD awareness, I collaborated with extraordinary artistic children with ADHD in a project I started on my website called ADHDmazing Art. They created pieces that showed what it feels like to have ADHD. They were kind enough to share their masterpieces with the world. The children range in age from seven to 14.
The kids had fun creating their art, and my own child was inspired to show her own thoughts and feelings about ADHD through art. Thank you very much to all of the amazing artists.
Spend a few minutes looking at the artwork below with your child and see if it sparks his or her creative urges. At the very least, it will evoke a “Right on!” or a smile.
“I feel this represents how individuals have difficulty with all types of focus issues,” says Emily (age 12). Emily is the ADHDmazing artist who inspired my idea to showcase the artwork of amazing and talented children with ADHD.
“This is how I feel sometimes, split in four.” This magnificent piece of art was created by a nine-year-old. The artists’ mother adds, “She’s amazing, and we love her.”
“I liked using all the different materials and getting to hammer and pound the nails into the wood,” says Douglas (age 8). Douglas’ artwork is based on an artist he learned about in school, Enrique Grau. Douglas’ mom adds, “Art and creating is the only thing he can bounce around with, spend hours working on, change directions a million times, and have a beautiful end product. There is no right or wrong.”
“The volcano is like my anger and sadness wanting to come out, and I try really hard to keep them in,” says Haley (age 9).
This fantastic artwork was done by Juliana (age 14). Her mother says, “She is obsessed with Twenty One Pilots, a band from America. All she does is draw them. She would rather draw and paint than get down to her studies and homework. She is a great artist, and it is the one thing she loves to do.”
This inspiring piece was created by Kailynn (age 9). She writes, “ADHD: You can be creative. You are smart. You can be awesome and make good choices.”
“Having ADHD is like having a puppy on my head,” says Giuliana (age 7). Her mom adds, “As someone who has to do her hair every morning, I agree!”
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