Who am I?
I’m Jeff Brackett, a former religious studies professor who retired early from academia to live as a visual artist.
I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome late in life — at age 58, a few years ago — and it turned my life upside down.
Since that time, I have read a lot about Asperger’s and Autism and how it influences my artwork.
I often find it difficult to stay with a single project before wanting to move on to a different one. Hence, I have several projects going on at the same time.
However, I can also focus intensively on a project once I start it, and that’s precisely what I will do with this newsletter.
Here are some other facts about me:
I lived in India for three consecutive years during grad school, doing language study and dissertation research.
A Fulbright-Hays Fellowship is one of several grants I have earned.
I earned the highest teaching award at Ball State University; only one is awarded yearly.
My artwork has appeared in several art publications.
I started drawing intensively fewer than 10 years ago.
I once taught a 15-credit, immersive course called “Religion and Comics.”
Why ASPIE ART JOURNEY newsletter?
To join the conversation about the intersection of autism and artmaking.
To follow the (sometimes illustrated) journey of a self-taught autistic artist who left an academic career to live as a visual artist.
To learn practical strategies that neurodiverse folks can use to thrive in a neurotypical world.
To access curated information about autism so that you don’t get overwhelmed by information overload.
Why a newsletter format?
I recently started making an illustrated memoir and wanted to create a space to share more about that process without writing a different book.
In this shorter writing format, you access information that I curate and create for you. And I am passionate about the content — it’s not “purely academic,” so to speak.
I never enjoyed writing for an academic audience.
As an Aspie, I struggled with academic writing. This always led to feeling overwhelmed, which led to me shutting down.
On this platform, I write about content that I care about, which makes all the difference in the world.
A newsletter also helps me focus on a single topic at a time, even while my mind races around, jumping from one project to another.
Why subscribe?
So that you never miss a post — they will go directly into your email inbox.
To learn practical ways of supporting Autistic friends, family, and loved ones.
To learn more about my journey into art and my analyses of my work.
If you join as a paid subscriber, you get access to:
Paywalled content and the archives
Special video content (e.g., my artmaking processes)
If you join as a Founding Member:
I will send you an original ink drawing (9x12”) worth at least as much as the price of that subscription level. Note that this only applies to members in the Continental USA; other arrangements might be possible for those living outside the USA.
