Art has a wonderful way of connecting us with others, often without needing any words at all. Tim Sharp, the autistic artist behind Laser Beak Man, is a perfect example of how creativity can become a pathway to communication and self-expression.
Growing up non-verbal, Tim was introduced to drawing as a way to communicate. But once he started sketching, the floodgates opened. He went from zero words to a hundred, forging a bright, bold world on paper.
Initially however, he resisted picking up a pencil. “I didn’t like getting anything on my hands,” he admits with a laugh.
Drawing out possibility.
As a child, he loved superheroes like Batman, Spider Man, and Iron Man and it was this fascination with superheroes that drove him to dream up his own. “I met Laser Beak Man when I was 11 years old,” Tim explains.
His mum Judy recalls that, “Tim was very literal in the beginning,” sometimes taking phrases and turning them into quirky, eye-catching drawings.
She’s quick to add that Tim’s sense of humour and love of bright colours reflect more than autism alone, they show off his personal flair and the part of him that loves making others smile.
The fast track to fame.
It didn’t take long for Laser Beak Man to attract attention. Tim was featured on the ABC’s Australian Story at 16 and his art career soared. Soon after, he and Judy were jetting off to Washington, D.C., and eventually New York.
“We became famous very quickly,” Tim says.
Where most young artists might struggle to gain exposure, in Tim’s case, his art gained popularity because people connected with its joyful energy.
“People love my art,” he says. “They want to be part of it.”
Laughter and colour.
So what is it that makes Tim’s art so universally appealing?
“I like to be happy,” he says, cutting right to the heart of it. “Everything feels right with the world when you laugh”.
Stepping onto the stage.
Laser Beak Man scored another big break when Dead Puppet Society adapted it for theatre, taking it to 42nd Street Studios in New York and the Sydney Opera House.
“We had a season at the Opera House,” Judy says, adding that Tim and the crew toured from Cairns to Melbourne. “It was absolutely amazing,” Tim chimes in.
He loved meeting actors and enjoyed watching the puppeteers work their magic. He also delighted in every Helpmann Award nomination that rolled in.
According to Judy, “It was a big team effort and it was so much fun”.
Spreading hope through art.
Tim loves hearing from people who recognise the power of art, especially when there are autistic children in the family who use it as a communication tool.
Tim’s advice for helping people find their voice?
“They can draw like me,” he says. “Try hard. Be happy.”
Judy adds, “Sometimes people need to see what’s possible to know it’s possible”.
A cinematic future.
So, what’s next for Laser Beak Man?
Tim says a film is in the works, collaborating with an Australian production company to bring his cheeky hero to animated life.
If you ask him about his next big goal, he’s clear: “Do you want to get an Oscar?” Judy teases.
“Oh, yeah, I do,” Tim answers with a grin.
With so much talent, and unwavering optimism, it’s no stretch of the imagination he’ll get one.
The power of trying hard.
Tim’s story reminds us that determination is its own superpower.
“I always keep going,” Tim says. “When I do some drawings, I meet other people and they want to work with me…that’s exciting!”
Win one of Tim’s prints.
If you’re searching for a spark of inspiration, check out Tim’s eye-catching work on his website or if you’d like a chance to win one of his prints, head to our Instagram or Facebook page to enter the draw!