We were very lucky to have the talented film maker Rupert Ward-Lewis create a short film of Iris. He has captured her spirit and joy while she paints and her innate interest in nature and the English landscape. This gentle, lyrical film begins with a poem read by award winning actress Olivia Colman and then takes you on a journey into the world of little Iris Grace.
Painting Technique
Many of you have been asking how Iris paints, what involvement do we have ? How much help does she get ?
So I thought I would give an example of a typical Iris art session.
All of her kit, the table she paints on and the equipment is left in the kitchen so she is free to come and go, painting when she wants to.
– Iris indicates she would like to paint by walking up to the sink and pointing at her brush and the mug she uses.
– I go to the cupboard and take out the paint bottles and she indicates which colour she would like to be made up. If the colour isnt there (like purple) she will find an item that is that colour to show me what she wants to be mixed. She also makes up her own colours, dipping brushes from mug to mug and watching the colour change then using it on the paper, sometimes even mixing on the paper itself.
– I then add water and she tests it out, on many occasions she will take it back to the sink if its not the right consistency.
– Iris paints with high flicks, dots, dabs, using fine paintbrushes with a careful attention to detail or large brushes in sweeping motions. She uses rollers (textured rollers, straight lines are created by those), stamps, and a range of brushes and sponges.
– When she is finsihed for that session she puts her tools down in the mug and leaves the table, waits for the painting to dry and then goes back to it to do some more.
If I notice she isn’t interested anymore in the painting I will ask her if its finished and if there is no response I start to take it off the table and I have somewhere in my office where I store them. She will either stop me doing that if its not finished or let it go. She sometimes does a little jig/dance to indicate she is pleased with it and sometimes she will take a piece back to the table if she feels it needs more.
Who names the Paintings ?
We used to name the paintings as Iris didn’t speak, we made them relevant to what they look like or how she felt while painting them or the music she was listening to at the time. Now Iris is speaking more she is naming them herself.
Iris Grace Painting 
It seems to me she paints with her right hand while she remembers with her left. She’s more magical than I’d imagined or previously noticed. She is not talking but certainly not wordless. She’s telling all, sharing her secrets with us. Who can listen? Whoever stops trying to hear her selection of their own words, and simply feels life with her, preeminent Iris Grace. Blessed are those in her presence.
i do agree with you Diana she does right with her right hand hand and i think that she uses her inmajination and the pictures that she draws is amazing and evryone should look at it in th museum for big money.
Your family are amazing! I’ve emailed you asking about the auctions! But had to stop by and say that Iris DID choose you all for a reason and she clearly is a very loved little girl
The video is exquisite! Her cat is beaufitful and she has some amazing unusual talents
Ok so maybe she won’t learn maths or speak like the rest of children her age. But it’s about her happiness ultimately and you have found an outlet for it! She looks so comfortable and relaxed when she is painting!
I wish you every happiness and love!
Stick together!!! Just look at what snowflakes can achieve when they do too!!!!
So Inspiring! I Love the paintings, love the bond Iris and Thula have ❤ ..Love the short film created by Rupert Ward-Lewis. I was wondering who wrote the poem read by Olivia Colman?
Involuntarily shed a few tears while going through this website (after the CNN highlight). I feel an overwhelming sense of awe! There are truly beautiful forces at work here! Iris is an inspiration and a gift to us all!
Beautiful little girl, I have autism too, I would love to meet her. I think i could spend days with that little artist and it would almost be a therapy for me too!
Painting really helps me too, music does that also. and i just can’t stop listening and watching the video about Iris. What song is it?