Life imitates art.

And art can be a way of life.For Marie Gelsomino of Tamaqua, art has become a constant companion, providing a purpose for living.In a very real sense, art has defined Gelsomino's path, giving it meaning and direction from her earliest development.Hazleton native Gelsomino was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at age 2.But she soon found a tangible way to deal with daily cognitive challenges. She says she taught herself to study her surroundings and put what she saw on paper.Basically, it became a way for her to relate to her world. She became an explorer, discovering her surroundings much like the wandering eyes of a baby examining the contents of a room for the first time.A voice emerged through artistic fingers."I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for," Gelsomino says.The passion continued to grow as she entered school, then high school.ArchitectureGelsomino seemed to be particularly drawn to buildings. Buildings have character and nuance that captured her attention.Putting what she saw on canvas, she developed a love of acrylics."I tried oils but found them muddy. I tried watercolor but it wasn't my bag," she says. "But a lot of people do wonderful watercolors."The more she dabbled with a variety of palettes, the more she was drawn to acrylics.They just seemed the right medium to use to paint architecture."I think they're brighter and versatile," she says. "You can use them like watercolor because they're water-based."Gelsomino went on to earn a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Montclair State University.If there was one constant in her life aside from art, it was the love she had for her parents.Gelsomino was always devoted to them.Her father was born and raised in Hazleton; her mother, McAdoo.Eventually the family moved to Stroudsburg, giving Gelsomino exposure to a variety of landscapes and buildings, including Schuylkill County, too."We'd take drives and my family would bring me here," Gelsomino says.SetbackSeveral years ago, Gelsomino's world changed dramatically when the unthinkable happened.Between 2008 and 2010, she lost both parents.Death has a way of redefining our lives, especially when we wake up one morning and find ourselves alone in the world.It's an awakening. A dose of mortal reality.It can be a daunting struggle for anyone, but especially so for someone dealing with challenges of autism.With help from relatives, Gelsomino packed up her belongings on Dec. 29, 2014, and moved to the town with the pretty architecture."My cousins found this place for me," she says from her apartment on the 11th floor of the towering ABC Tamaqua High Rise.From that lofty vantage point, she studies the town, picks up a brush, and paints whatever catches her fancy.She admits to falling in love with the detail in Tamaqua buildings."The architecture is very spectacular in this area. Since I moved here, I like art more than ever," says Gelsomino, 58.She adapted quickly to living in Tamaqua and has made many new friends. She also found employment, part-time, at Turkey Hill Minit Market, Hometown.ExposureAs an artist, Gelsomino is just being discovered.Her painting style is leans toward realism with emphasis on bold lines and lots of color.As with all artists, her unique style and technique define her. And her work stands alone.She recently displayed some of her paintings at the Lehighton Area Chamber of Commerce and last year at a show in New Jersey.She'll soon set up a display at Nazareth Art Center and has met with Leona Rega of the Tamaqua Community Art Center. She hopes to stage a show there in September.For Gelsomino, it's an exciting time. Art has been her life. It's her identity. Her existence.Through ongoing struggles with autism and loss of her parents, she has relied on art to not only survive, but prevail.Art has been the constant.Above all, she's learned to recognize its value and the role it's played.Art is her companion. As long as acrylics are part of her being, she'll never be alone."Every day I'm thankful for the gift I was given. It makes me feel I have a purpose," she says.Gelsomino has found her own answer to a universal desire of existence - that each of us should live with purpose.She can be reached by email at

woofie11@verizon.net.