Twenty-year-old Tyson Sales has been painting for three years, often creating an original piece each week. 

He does all of his work at the dining room table, first sketching it out and then painting it with the colours his mom mixes for him, by his request.

Painting has become a way for him to share his thoughts and imagination with others.

“It’s a good way for him to express the pictures in his head,” said Clare Everest, Sales’ mom.

Sales has autism and finds it difficult to communicate verbally, but with the help of colour and paint he has found a way to express himself.

Many of his paintings are of colourful floral arrangements, either that he has in front of him or that he imagines himself. He also has an interest in animals, with his favourite painting being of his dog Spike, who passed away.

Sales will be displaying his work at his first-ever exhibit beginning tonight, Jan. 5, at the Jasper Museum and Archives. His show is called Talking in Color: 52 Weeks of Autism.

Everest said the exhibit will demonstrate the progression of his work over the course of a year. 

“His work is always evolving. I find it really interesting what it is that he wants to paint and how he imagines things.

“His work is just getting better and better.”

Everest expects about 30 pieces will be on display at the museum, although there are many more than that to chose from – as is evident from the walls of his Tonquin Street home and the stacks of finished paintings leaning against furniture around the house.

Sales began painting because of his mom. Everest was having a hard time finding a creative outlet for her son because he finds it challenging to try new things.

“I had to find something that he’d find interesting.”

And painting is just that.

Everest said painting has become an activity that she and her son do together. He paints, she mixes the colours and they chat.

“I’m his faithful assistant,” she said with a laugh.

Sales’ work has been on display before, although not in an exhibit. He has had paintings hung at the PALS Autism School in Vancouver, where he attends classes throughout the year. He has also donated works to community fundraisers and has won a prize in the Budding Picasso art contest.

Sales will be in attendance at the show opening, which runs from 7 to 9 p.m. 

His work will remain on display at the museum until Jan. 29.