Boy's artistic eye for detail develops following at shop
In the stationery section at Earth Friendly Choices, a store in downtown Arlington Heights, a line of cards by a young Arlington Heights artist is drawing increasing attention.
Johnny Reisel, 9, loves to draw buildings and cityscapes, with some of his favorites including detailed renderings of the Chrysler Building in New York and Times Square, among others.
When his mother, Eileen, shared them with his teachers and friends, they all agreed: They were good enough to be sold.
Turns out, they are.
According to John Guilfoil, owner of the store, the cards are selling well, and now they have spread to another gift store in Geneva, Cocoon.
"We've had a good response to them," Guilfoil says. "He's quite a good little artist. His art work is phenomenal."
On the back of each box, a brief description tells about the artist. "Made with love by Johnny Reisel," it says, before telling patrons that he is on the autism spectrum.
Johnny is a triplet whose siblings, Vincent and Maggie, take great pride in their brother's talent, say their parents, Bob and Eileen.
His family noticed Johnny's interest in art two years ago when he developed a fascination with buildings and cityscapes. In the beginning, family members would draw buildings for him, but before long, Johnny drew his own images, with much more detail.
Together, they sought out books with pictures of buildings at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, but driven to find more, Johnny would go on the computer searching for more, and click on the images.
"He's definitely very computer savvy," his mother says.
Within the last year, she adds, his style has changed from the very detailed renderings, to more abstract drawings, but no less fascinating for their maturity and depth, observers say.
"His perspective is just amazing," says Amy Svoboda of Arlington Heights. "I think it's like a metaphor for life. When you really look at it, and all the detail that's going on, it's amazing."
To see samples of his work, visit Earth Friendly Choices at 13 E. Campbell St. in Arlington Heights.