A young artist emerges and inspires.

Seth Wolf has found his voice in art. With unconventional methods, he's creating work that's vivid and abstract - and soon on display during Lafayette Art Association's 6x6 event.

Photo by Robin May Seth Wolf with therapist Kayla Leblanc. Wolf, 5, will have two pieces of his unique art displayed during the upcoming LAA 6x6 fundraiser.

"I'm so proud," says the artist's mom, Emily, of her son's efforts. "He doesn't have many hobbies, and this is his own thing he can be proud of."

Proud, indeed. Seth is 5.

About 1.5 years ago he began painting with his mom, who has a love for art. But Seth wasn't a fan of the messy finger paints. At 2 he was diagnosed with autism and has some sensory issues.

"He has an obsession with wheels," Emily says.

Seth Wolf goes to work creating art with wheels. The 5-year-old diagnosed with autism has sensory issues, meaning he's not a fan of paint on his hands.

Soon the innovative mother combined his love for all things transportation with art. He began using his trucks and wheeled toys as his brush. It became clear Seth loved to create, and Emily was overjoyed her son had a hobby he loved.

"I liked it and thought it was great. But I thought that was just because I'm his mom," she says with a laugh.

She framed his work and gifted it to family. She took a photo of some of his pieces and emailed it to her father, who saw the potential and passed it along to Cecelia Hoyt with LAA.

"She went wild," Emily says.

Certainly others will feel the same when his work goes on display for the 6x6 fundraising event for LAA. Work from Seth and other area artists will be on exhibit at the Horse Farm Sept. 14 during PlantFest then at the LAA gallery in the Oil Center through Sept. 29. The fundraiser is the evening of Sept. 29 with ticket holders drawn at random taking dibs on the piece of their choice. Two of those pieces are from the hands of Seth Wolf.

"I want Seth to inspire people that even when you struggle with certain things, don't focus on what you can't do, focus on something you can do," Emily says. "That is how Seth's paintings have inspired me - despite any struggles he may have he shines through with his own little hobby he created for himself. And in that he finds peace and pride and joy."

She no doubt finds the same. ­