Laurie DeWitt/The Gazette Lauren Henry of Gaithersburg incorporated With a Brush of Love, a business that specializes in interior painting tailored to a specific child's needs, last year. She is surrounded by some samples of her work.

And that's exactly what the Germantown mother had in mind when she approached Lauren Henry two years ago. Henry had a part-time business at the time that specialized in interior painting tailored to a specific child's needs.

"I wanted to do something funky in the playroom ... to keep their energy in that room. The kids loved it," Pinto said.

As did her friend's 2-year-old autistic toddler. "He was talking clearly to the polka dots. He called them 'bubbles.' His mother couldn't believe it," Pinto said.

But it was no surprise to Henry, who switched her business to full-time and incorporated it last year as With a Brush of Love.

"We're all affected by color and patterns," said Henry, of Gaithersburg. "Color creates atmosphere. The brighter the colors, the more energy we have."

A former public school substitute teacher in Montgomery and Fairfax counties, where she often found herself working in special education classrooms, Henry, 35, noticed how her charges reacted to colors.

Bright hues encouraged interaction from the most reticent of children while muted shades seemed to pacify those tending toward hyperactivity. Henry, who is also interested in child psychology and creative original art, saw an opportunity to develop a business where she could apply her flair for color with behavior management in children. Last year, she incorporated With a Brush of Love.

While Henry will do any room in the house, she usually is called on to make youngsters' bedrooms and playrooms more enticing.

"That way, instead of being relegated to their room, [children] go in because it's theirs," Henry said.

To ensure appropriate design and color scheme, Henry meets with the family, including the child for whom the mural is intended.

"We're using color and patterns to establish an atmosphere to calm, to pacify or to stimulate. It's an important opportunity when the child can talk to you and offer an opinion," Henry said.

She also consults with medical and educational advisory experts, including Dr. Monique Levermore, a clinical psychologist in Melbourne, Fla.

Levermore said research shows that color does affect behavior.

"You wouldn't want to use red for a child with [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. It's very stimulating. For ADHD, you want calmer colors, baby blue and pastels," Levermore said.

She said color has impact even when there are no emotional or learning disabilities to take into consideration. "Bright yellow stimulates thinking. If an area is designated as a place to study, use yellow in the design. Yellow keeps you alert," Levermore said.

A color's impact on behavior is also recognized at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where administrators have commissioned Henry to paint two murals designed to soothe those in need of the pediatric intensive care unit.

"It's important children feel embraced by this environment, that they know that we'll take care of them. When they see beautiful artwork on the wall, it's less stressful," said Tina Lassiter, managing director for New Horizons, the arts, education and cultural enrichment program at Children's.

Details are still being worked out, but Henry said the color scheme will be "uplifting and joyful yet also comforting."

"Anyone can do a mural ... but I focus on special needs," Henry said. "These are options to assist and make a difference."

For information on With a Brush of Love, call 240-506-1716 or go to www.brushoflove.com.