Child genius Nahshon O'Neil Hollis says he wants to give back to children in need when he becomes a famous artist.

With his artwork ranging in prices from $175 to $1,000, the 13-year-old artist has been chosen out of over 1,000 talented kids world-wide to be featured on talkshow host Oprah Winfrey's website.

Nahshon said: "I was so excited when I got chosen to go on the site. Only 190 videos got picked from over a thousand.

"My mom heard Oprah was having talented kids on the show so we sent in a video showcasing me and my work."

After they submitted the video, his mother constantly checked her email to see if there had been any response from the website.

"I didn't know what to expect because the other kids on the site are very talented. It took weeks to get a response but we were very excited when they sent an email saying we would like to have you on the site, my mom went wild," Nahshon said.

This Saltus Grammar School student's talent was realised at the tender age of two by his preschool teachers but it took his parents a little longer to realise what at gifted son they had.

"I started with crayons at age two. I would draw Gombeys and my teacher at Wee Learn Nursery thought that I was talented but my parents just thought it was ok.

"It wasn't until they put my work up against work by children my age that they started to realise I had talent," the Devonshire boy said.

Nahshon said that at that point his parent's, O'Neil and Shawn Hollis began to invest and nurture their son's talent by purchasing water paints for him and later canvases and oil paints this all by the age of eight.

He started learning how to draw by watching Pappyland, a children's show teaching them how to draw cartoons and later, Bob Ross, who is best known for his oil painting and soothing voice.

"I would get up ever morning and watch Pappyland teach me to draw cartoons but I especially remember watching Bob Ross every Saturday morning when I was eight-years-old.

"My parents started to buy me his (Bob Ross) books to look at for ideas but most of my stuff is from my own imagination," he said.

Nahshon said he usually draws landscapes, mountains and sunsets but as his talent developed he is branched out in other directions.

He said: "Now I've branched off and am developing my own style as opposed to Bob Ross. And although I like landscapes, I've recently got into portraits."

Recently the year nine student entered a self-portrait in his school's art display.

Accrediting his natural talent to his great-grandfather he said: "I recently visited my great-grandfather in Connecticut, about three years ago for the first time.

"He had all these painting and sculptures in his basement. He had a sculpture of this guy climbing up a pole, which was carved out of a pencil. That was amazing," Nahshon said.

Nahshon's very supporting parents do all they can to ensure their son reaches his potential.

"My dad is always promoting my work, trying to get me exposure and my mom looks for programmes and competitions to put me in," he said.

The gifted artist not only excels in his paintings but was also very active with his community football league, Wolves until he suffered and injury in high jump.

He also enjoys watching television and hanging out with his sister, who is a year younger than him and is currently teaching him to play the piano.

"My sister Shanna supports me but sometime she gets a little jealous" Nahshon joked, "But she is talented too she sketches fashions and they are pretty good."

He said his artwork has matured over the years and attribute his successes to his Elliot Primary School teacher Mr. Trevor Smith and his two Saltus teachers, Ms. Fiona Murdock and Mr. Steven Masters.

Mrs. Hollis said of her son's success: "I can't explain it, it is awesome. Although my kitchen look like an art studio and there is paint everywhere, I am very proud of him."

She also mentioned that the Oprah administrators asked her if Nahshon painted by numbers or by following tracings.

But Nahshon said he usually gets his inspiration late at night when everything is quiet and everyone is asleep: "An idea pops in my head sometimes I draw it out or I just get up and go into the kitchen and start painting everything is freehand and my own ideas."

His paintings usually take about two and a half days to compete but with his schoolwork and chores Nahshon said he hasn't had that much time to devote to his painting so it can take a few weeks to complete.

Recognition in Bermuda has been winning three Junior Spring into the Arts awards and City Hall art competition awards, back to back Peoples Choice Awards and placed third in the Adult Quick Art competition for the Bank of Butterfield Art Festival, all in the age range of eight to ten.

He was also one of the winners of the One World, One People competition for the Declaration of Human Rights for the United Nations and has also been featured in events such as the Premier's Concert, painting live.

Nahshon's artwork is currently displayed at the Masterworks Museum of Arts located in Botanical Gardens.

At eight-years-old, Nashon sold two of his paintings for $1,000 and to date has sold about twenty pieces.

His father said: "I gain inspiration from him and he is and inspiring person to listen to when he talks about his goals as he always talks thing into existence."

Nahshon's Oprah website appearance can be viewed at Oprah.com and following the link "Worlds Smartest and Most Talented Kids.

n Nahshon's website can be visited at www.nahshonsartworks.com