Robert’s Gallery

Robert’s Gallery

 

Artist Robert, 45

Robert, 45

Incarcerated: 26 years

Robert’s three paintings above will be for sale along with 41 pieces painted by people inside SQ. 👀for our auction. If you can, please stop by our office to see them in person!

Artwork descriptions:
Hope Nots (Heart Strings)
I believe when someone gives you their heart, there’s a connection that time and distance can not separate. In my “Hope Nots’ ‘ painting I made that connection visible with string. This painting reminds me of how much I miss Holland.

Giraffe (Stand Tall)
The Dirty Heads have a song called “Stand Tall”. It’s one of my favorites and got stuck in my head while I was sketching the giraffe.

64 Impala (Sunset)
What’s my motivation? Someday I’ll be out there sitting on the hood of a 64 watching a beautiful sunset…… right after I learn how to drive.

George’s Gallery

George’s Gallery

 

Artist George, 76

George, 76

Incarcerated: 21 years

We had just completed servicing our work orders and taking advantage of our down time, we produced a hit of window pane acid. I’d been around drugs most of my life, but had never tried acid. We headed to my third tier cell, and having divided the sheet of acid, we stepped out on the tier, waiting for the drug to kick in, not knowing what to expect. We noticed there was a commotion brewing on the second tier across from us. There was a new officer panicking and not knowing what to do. He ran to the front desk seeking help. There was a Mexican dude hanging from his cell’s vent still kicking. A small crowd had formed and saw that he was dead or dying. A few went into his cell and removed his belongings, clothing, shoes, canteen and family photos – I couldn’t understand ~ why did they steal his photos. I guess my sorrow over shadowed my acid high because this was the first suicide I had to witness. To add more misery to that day, there was an incident which set off an alarm. Two guys were racing across the yard, one with a knife or shank in his back, and the other chasing him, attempting to retrieve his knife. After the incident, I decided it was time to turn my tools in and lock myself in my cell for we had our own individual key to our cell. That was 1969, I was housed in Soledad Prison in California. Both incidents have stayed locked in my mind for 50 plus years. Today at 76, I have seen enough darkness. I know this darkness can only be dissipated by the light of truth and love. 

George has donated two pieces of artwork, to our cause to raise funds, and here is his description: 

The bodysuit was a concept I saw almost fifty years ago. 

Faces: I gain inspiration from other artists and events that I use as a theme. This one involves human nature and the conflicts we experience, such as the anguish we endure after receiving a lengthy denial from the parole board. My father was an artist who worked with oil, and although I’ve worked using all mediums, I prefer pastels.

Both of George’s paintings will be for sale, look for our auction and please stop by our office to see them in person!

Paul’s Gallery

Paul’s Gallery

 

Artist Paul, 64

Artist Paul, 64

Incarcerated: 21 years

I first began oil painting in 1978, shortly after I was discharged from the army at the end of 1977. I then took a couple of classes at Fullerton Community College. My painting instructor told me to paint whatever I felt like painting, however I felt like painting it. I was hooked. Then I met a girl, fell in love and was persuaded to leave painting behind. I was told by my new in-laws, “No one makes a living painting.” So I worked in sales and left painting behind. Many years later, in 2010, I attended a painting class at San Quentin, taught by Patrick Maloney. I discovered that my life wasn’t quite over. Pat had the same teaching philosophy as my first instructor. For me, it clicked. Since I do not have the benefit of viewing things in the real world then painting them, I rely on my imagination. Sometimes I use photo references to guide me. I have painted recreations of some of the great masters: Vermeer, Monet, Marguerite and others. I change them slightly to make them my own interpretation. I am ashamed to be known as a convicted murderer who paints. That’s why I don’t promote my work. But beauty often grows out of ugliness.

I believe people have forgotten the importance and beauty of the small things. My example for my two paintings would be the birds and the bees, without the birds and bees we would have no food to eat and be inundated by insects. Without plankton, algae and coral there would be no environment to produce the air that we breathe. Everything seems to be about what we can attain and secure, rather than gratefulness for what we have. The birds and bees are a symbol for me of the circle of life.The small things in life are often neglected, the beautifully simple, necessary building blocks of life. Without the birds and bees, there would be no life. We always look toward the Colossal for what is meaningful, but what if what is truly profound is so found within the minuscule creatures that are under-appreciated. Chaos is only a heartbeat away, but even within chaos, order can be found. Nothing is truly random. Look closely, from a distance.

Jorge’s Gallery

Jorge’s Gallery

 

Artist Jorge, 38

Jorge, 38

Incarcerated: 22 yrs

I started drawing at 16 because I couldn’t read or write. In juvenile hall, I got a stack of letters from my mom I couldn’t answer. So, I’d draw smiley or sad faces to let her know how I felt. I was too embarrassed to tell her or anyone I couldn’t read. Thanks to my mom, I got into drawing. One day, I brought one of the staff to tears when I asked her to read my moms letters. When I’m drawing, I’m back to that same kid that loves life. I’m at peace, I’m kind and respectful. When you live a gang mentality you feel like there’s no escape, but then you realize that it’s for nothing. When my little brother got shot, I felt the impact on the community, especially when my mom cried. I realized gangs terrorize the community. That was the moment I said, “What’s my purpose?” I changed and got on the right path. I feel like I have more friends now, who are positive- of all cultures- I don’t judge. When I’m creating art, it shows there’s more to me than my past. Whatever I draw and send home is important. It makes an impact. Art is a perfect way for us to reach out to society and show we’re more than just criminals. We’re loving, too. We just made bad choices. Humans of San Quentin is a way to show that our hard work pays off. Art to me is about expressing myself and inspiring others. My first painting is of two hands holding barbed wire so everyone inside can have hope and not give up. They resemble a gravestone to honor the incarcerated Older Guys (OGs) who passed away in prison. A lot of us incarcerated have been given advice by them. Two of my cellies have passed away, who also inspired me. My second painting is of Marilyn Monroe in charcoal. I always liked her. My wife is my queen, she and my son and daughter are my motivation. My goal is to make it home, to give back to my community by making a studio for kids and their parents so they can use their talent in a positive way and not end up in my shoes. If I can do that, I’ll inspire the kids. Both of Jorge’s paintings will be for sale along with 41 pieces painted by people inside SQ. 👀for our auction and please stop by our San Quentin office to see them in person!

Mark’s Gallery

Mark’s Gallery

 

Artist Mark, 56

Mark, 56

Incarcerated:  33 years

My life in art began after a life-threatening illness when I was five years old. Since that time art has become a manner through which I express thoughts, feelings and perceptions to share with others. I enjoy creating things that represent aspects of our humanity. Sometimes we forget our higher selves. Sometimes we forget the inner beauty we carry within, burying it under layers of conditioned reactions. So I offer the reminder with Illuminations and Wisdom In Blue. Both of Mark’s paintings will be for sale along with 41 pieces painted by people inside SQ. 👀for our auction. Please stop by our office to see them in person!

Erick’s Gallery

Erick’s Gallery

 

Artist Erick, 37

Erick, 37

Incarcerated: 6 years

People in the free world think incarcerated people are sad, depressed or angry. That’s not true for me. I’m living a happy life. Every morning, I get up and am laser focused on getting in the telephone line. I stand in line for about 30 minutes for a 15 minute call, all to talk to my wife to find out how she’s doing and keep our relationship strong. We’ve been married for six years. She lives in Southern California. Things would be better if we were able to have family visits – overnight visits for two or three days. I like drawing stuff that has to do with things that don’t exist in the real world, like the phoenix, and the crying angel. They bring me self-fulfillment. I did a mariachi painting recently because I’ve never done a cultural piece and in prison, it’s a big thing to embrace one’s culture. Now, my relationship with my Mexican culture has changed as I’m delving deeper into it. Collectively, these pieces represent my personality and feelings as well as my desire to keep challenging myself as an artist. The next piece I’m thinking of is a skeleton that emphasizes the rib cage. I want it to have a rose as its heart with light coming out of it. The light coming out of the heart would represent my circumstance of being in prison. People think when someone is sent to prison that life stops, but it doesn’t. People still go to school, create art, and are still relevant. I create artwork in order to give something positive to the world. I don’t want to live in the shadow of the crime that I committed. I know I have the capacity to change because I’m putting in the work to learn about myself. Both of Erick’s paintings will be for sale along with 41 pieces painted by people inside SQ. 👀for our auction. Please stop by our office to see them in person!

Perrpul Candles 

Description: I wanted to create some ghostly, purple candles because I love both. The flame is intriguing to watch, so I had to paint some candles!

Cheeser Smile

Description: I love drawing cartoons. I wanted to do a dark green mint background with variations of the color red for the woman. I wanted this art piece to be playful and fun.

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