"Girl face / redemption " - Nicholas Cahill-Lane

8.5" x 11" | Pen on paper

“The style of art, I call it Carbon Realism. The title I chose is Torn in Between. I chose that because I wanted the picture to represent our journey through life as the sinners we all are and the impact life can put on us at times. My next-door neighbor on lockdown, named Cuzzo, helped me with the name of the Art, but the point I wanted the Art to express is that we all can receive redemption through Jesus Christ. This piece speaks volumes to me, and I’m hoping it can make it in the book to impact a lot of people in a positive way. My name is Nick, also known as ‘Stretch’. I am 30 years old, and I have been serving time since I was a kid. I’m from Frederick, MD. When I first entered prison at the age of 19, I was young, dumb, naive, and gullible. I made a lot of bad decisions at that point in my life, and joining a gang was one of them. While incarcerated, I got into a lot of trouble, so the majority of my time was spent on lock up. I learned reading and drawing while on lockdown to help me keep my sanity. I eventually learned how to tattoo as well. I lost basically the little family support I had when my mom died (January 12, 2016, RIP), and my girlfriend left me, so I used art and tattooing as my means to provide for myself. Getting my art published in a book would really mean a lot to me. I’m very nit-picky and insecure about my Art, so initially, I tried to find a lot of excuses for why I should not participate in ‘Art for Redemption’. I’ve had a rough life thus far, and getting published would be an accomplishment I’d be very proud of, and I’m really doing this because my mom would have wanted me to. By the way, for your information, I am on lock up for doing what I love; tattooing a guy I know. Another important aspect about myself is that I am religious and Christian. In a lot of the Art I make I try to incorporate my beliefs as a subliminal message. I know the Lord blessed me with a gift to be an artist, so if I can reach just one single person with my Art, then it would have been worth it. I want to give back to society and help others, especially when I get out this year in October. I’ve been trying a lot more lately to become a better man and to change my negative ways that led me to coming to prison. I can’t seem to express how badly I want to be in this book, but at the same time, in the back of my mind I felt as if I didn’t deserve it and didn’t want to consider it. I gave my all to this piece and I was very reluctant to even part ways with it. Lately, I’ve had a dream or two about wondering how I can use my Art to help others and possibly benefit myself, and then this opportunity falls into my lap!”.

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