Medical Reports: Painting passion

WSVN -- Brian Keif: "One more coat?

Ivette Acosta: "He's able to just express himself."

Ivette Acosta: "He likes to paint. He loves to paint."

Anthony Acosta uses a laser system to paint a canvas. He chooses colors, tools and techniques.

Brian Keif: "There's so much to be learned. So the longer we work together, yes the more he has the understanding of what he's capable of doing."

Brian Keif: "I pretty much come in with just a blank mind."

For George, it's a little less of a challenge.

Amy Rodriguez: "It looks exactly how you want it to look?

George Marmolejos: "It was really good. I've been painting about two years. I feel very happy."

The program Artistic Realizations Technologies started about two years ago at the Creative Children Therapy's Center. This is how it works.

Natasha Bravo: "Every choice you and I would make with holding a paint brush, they do by manipulating the tracker."

The tracker is a trained artist who acts as neutral arms.

Amy Rodriguez: "Do you want me holding the spatula straight or at an angle?"

Amy Rodriguez: "The tracker is suppose to help with the student, and basically just be hands, not opinionated."

The paintings are then displayed and sold at art shows, and half of the profit goes to the student.

Ivette Acosta: "I've posted some on Ebay. He was at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival."

The hourly sessions typically take place once a week and they are free of charge for the students. The goal, for the kids is to express themselves, communicate and feel a passion for art and the trackers benefit as well.

Brian Keif: "Being able to be apart of somebody else's release that artistic release, you know being able to let loose on a canvas, you know being apart of someone else's creative is wonderful."

Amy Rodriguez: "I love what I do, and there's I mean no other day job can compare to this."

Amy says she see's a change in her students after a couple of sessions.

Amy Rodriguez: "They are not as shy as they used to be. They've opened up and be as straight forward with you."

Christine Cruz: "If you want to check out some of the paintings. The next exhibition will be in two weeks at the Miami Art Central."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Creative Children Therapy Center
12608 SW 88th Street
Miami, FL 33186
http://www.creative-children.org/