[1] Zinelli's life took a turn ten years later, when he and twenty other patients were encouraged to take part in a painting workshop established by sculptors Michele Nobile and Pino Castagna and psychiatrist Mario Marini.
Completely engrossed by his work, Zinelli drew for eight hours a day with tempera paints and colored pencils.
By 1964, his work had been exhibited, and he had attracted the attention of art historians associated with Jean Dubuffet and the Compagnie de l'Art Brut.
Zinelli used primary colors to tell the story of his childhood in the Italian country side, frequently repeating figures to cover the entire background in a "horror vacui" style.
His human figures are always solid shapes drawn in profile, often with holes to represent eyes or other features.