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SEEKONK - The imaginative swirls and vibrant hues of Andrew Randall's paintings may well be a window into his world of autism.

For the past three years, the 22-year-old has dipped his paint brush into acrylics thickened with sand, then rolled the paint into images that seem abstract, but that speak from his unique perspective.

His mother, Jan, who knows him best, is not sure exactly what he is trying to say because his language impairment prevents him from saying it. But whenever she asks him what's in his paintings, he almost always says it's the ocean.

"I wish he could tell me what he loves about the ocean or why it is one of his favorite places," she said. "I wish he could tell me lots of things."

Diagnosed at age 3 with autism, the developmental disorder that interferes with social interaction and communication, Andrew made strides in various specialized programs over the years. But he never took to arts and crafts, and hated activities such as coloring and painting. Then at age 19, Andrew was participating in a two-day arts program sponsored by Community Autism Resources in Swansea, where Jan works, when he became captivated by paints.

The reason is uncertain, but may be in his genes, since artistic talent seems to run in the Seekonk family. Jan's father, Al Baker, has been an artist for years, and her daughter, Allison, is now studying for a master's degree in fine arts.

Allison was the one who suggested buying the paints and brushes and canvases for her brother, and when she saw him trying to make the paints thicker, she suggested adding the type of sand used in sand art.

"He started painting, and he just loves it," Jan said.

Those who work with people with autism are seeing more and more artists in their midsts, she said, and entire Web sites are now devoted to displaying and promoting their work.

Professionals say music and art are appealing forms of expression because they offer a way to communicate without words.

Carrie Sandman of Westport, an art therapist and graduate student who works with Andrew, said people with autism may have difficulty communicating verbally, but can converse through pictures. Because of that, she said, art therapy can be beneficial.

"It is a way for them to express themselves through their preferred mode of communication," Sandman said. "When I watch Andrew paint, I feel as though I am hearing his true voice and getting a glimpse of his world."

Her belief is that color, line, shape and texture can express emotions.

When Andrew expresses himself through painting, she said, "I feel that he is releasing all his emotions that he can't get out otherwise." The fact that he almost always describes his paintings as the ocean makes Sandman look even closer.

"I see not a typical, picturesque ocean but all that the ocean symbolizes, beauty, mystery, emotion and the ebb and flow of life," she said.

Jan is not sure why her son loves the ocean as much as he does. The family regularly goes to the same beach, she said, and when Andrew was a toddler, he would scream and cry for a half-hour or more before settling down and enjoying himself. She now realizes that his reaction was due to sensory overload, which can be a problem for people with autism.

But after a couple of years of going to the beach, Andrew began loving it so much that he would cry when it was time to leave.

"I think Andy loves the calmness of the beach," Jan said. "It's a relaxing environment, and he loves the water."

She sees meaning not only in what her son paints, but in the way he does it. He has developed his own technique of covering the entire canvas with one or two colors, then selecting other colors and rolling the brush up the page and folding one color into another.

Andrew's art is already drawing the attention of others.

His work has been featured in two art shows sponsored by agencies that serve people with autism, and four of his paintings have been sold. Jan also created note cards from some of his paintings and nearly two dozen packs have been sold to family and friends.

She would now like to find an art teacher to work with Andrew, who has never taken a formal lesson, and to find a studio where he can work with other artists and not just those with disabilities.

Meanwhile, he continues to pick up his brush and dip into his paints whenever the inspiration moves him.

For his mother, Andrew's message is not as important as the satisfaction and relaxation it seems to offer him.

"For me, the most important thing is that he is happy, and feels fulfilled," she said. "I hope it expands his world beyond autism."

Anyone interested in obtaining note cards of Andrew's art can contact Jan by e-mail at: Janneane7@aol.com.

GLORIA LaBOUNTY can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at glabounty@thesunchronicle.com.