This artwork comes from teenagers who live in Larkspur at the Griffith Center.

"For many kids, it is a last chance. These are children who have had very difficult lives, abused and neglected, they have some mental illness, behavioral problems occurring in school and in society, and some involvement with the law," Howard Shiffman of the Griffith Center for Children said.

In addition to traditional therapy programs, the Griffith Center uses wilderness training, equine programs as well as writing and art programs to help troubled young people become productive citizens.

"Philosophically these kids have to come up with some idea of forgiveness, for their lives and for the people that have hurt them," Shiffman said.

Artist Malcolm Farley is a longtime supporter of the Griffith Center. He brought a group of the teenagers from the center to his gallery to encourage their artistic talents and remind them about the therapeutic benefits of art. Farley says art is a form of meditation, a chance for people to check out and let whatever is welling up inside come out.

Farley gave the teenagers an empty canvas, pencils, paints, markers and crayons and told them to create with gratitude.

"No matter what your background is, no matter what is going on in your life, there is always a basic unit you can build upon, whether it's the fact you're just breathing, whether it's the fact you're walking," he told them.

Within minutes their stories came to life on canvas.

The young man who drew the tracks in the snow explained his piece this way, "The bear track and the deer. It's like my life. The deer, I guess is my past trying to catch me, and I'm not letting it, because I want to change."

The teen who painted the picture of a boy holding his father's hand talked about the chance to finally spend Christmas with his father.

"He's kind of leading me through the stuff I'm going through," he said.

When they finished, no one was more pleased than the man who makes his living painting.

Farley told the teens, "You guys inspire me."

To learn more about the Griffith Centers for Children go to their Web site: www.griffithcenters.org.

To learn more about Malcolm Farley, go to www.malcolmfarley2.com.