8-year old’s art to help homeless

Being eight years old, and a normal boy, the summer is spent mostly giggling and playing with the family dogs. Oh yeah, sneaking up on your sister Mia is also a lot of fun, except when she turns the tables and scares you!

Swimming is also a fun summer treat. Being eight, if your mom is an art teacher, you love to draw and paint and even put your work on canvas. Living in Wimberley one can be detached from the “not so nice” part of reality.

There is misery present in the world and adults have been long desensitized to it. Things like homelessness. This stone cold hard fact hit Ian Thomas, a then 7 year-old Wimberley. Like most kids his age, he reacted to something that just couldn’t be true and the only way to deal with emotions at that age, by crying.

How it all started was a normal supper, and his mom Lindsey Thomas realized that he was not eating his food. The age-old mom scolding, “there’s people that are starving, so eat your food,” was given but instead of the usual reaction, the glum look resigned to the fact that supper should be eaten, Ian cried.

Totally out of the ordinary, mom asked why he was crying his tear filled answer was the question “really? They’re starving?” Reality of the world and the fact that “yes” is the correct answer is a cruel fact to handle at that age.

“Can we go to feed them?” That was Ian’s next question and after research Mobile Loaves and Fishes of East Austin was chosen to visit. “He’s always been beyond his age, his thinking process, he thinks past the surface,” mom Lindsey said.

And here is how art is tied in to the story. Ian’s interest in art started early, as Mom is an art teacher at Dripping Springs Middle School. Ian attends Rooster Springs Elementary there. With a background like that, Ian got the idea to help by selling art with part of the profits going to the homeless and part to inspire them and give them art supplies, “so they can do art and sell their work.”

“He does paintings in chunks…in the process he is learning patience,” according to mom. He paints a variety of subjects. “He loves animals and nature. He looks up pictures of bugs.” Some are abstract, some are whimsical.

“I started painting and noticed I liked it. (I got the idea) maybe art, selling it and giving the money to them and inspire other people. Inspire with art. Inspire the homeless to do art, art that will inspire other people,” Ian said.

This Saturday August 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. Ian’s wish will hopefully come true. There’s an exhibit of his work at 15605 Ranch Road 12, in Wimberley. For more information text (512) 922-7909. Patrons are encouraged to bring art supplies to put into backs that will be donated to the homeless.