Rockland County teen with autism illustrates coloring book about famous artists

"Color My Artist" features drawings and fun facts of history's greatest artists. The teen behind the illustrations is Jerrard Delgala, who has autism.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2021, 1:36 PM

Updated 1,282 days ago

Share:

A Rockland County teen has his own coloring book out for sale on Amazon.
"Color My Artist" features drawings and fun facts of history's greatest artists. The teen behind the illustrations is Jerrard Degala, who has autism.
At just 5 years old, the New City boy's talent caught the eye of art teacher Peggy O'Hara. She went on to nurture his gift through elementary and middle school. As she showcased his work, the teacher visualized a new idea.
"He got bored with coloring and had me coloring for him…so, it gave me this idea that this would make a great coloring book. You like to draw the lines and others can color it," O'Hara says.
His family says instead of speaking, their son chose to articulate through his artwork.
Degala created a spectrum of art from lullaby favorites like "Humpty Dumpty," to heartbreaking moments in the pandemic through his parents' eyes. Both are nurses, one working in an emergency room and the other in the intensive care unit.
"There's so much sorrow, pain, emotions that we are dealing with and to see this is a break for us, a ray of sunshine I would say," says his mother, Mylah Degala.
The book can be purchased on Amazon and proceeds will be donated to autism efforts in Rockland.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued