"Pieces from the mind 02" | Original art

The artist is currently incarcerated in North Carolina. She specializes in cartoon like characters.

All original artworks are created by artists previously or currently incarcerated. They use whichever materials they have access to, and prove creative ingenuity beyond the norm. These original paintings and drawings are born in the heart of a prison cell, from the hands of an outsider artist to adorn the walls of your space. Each art piece is a one-of-a-kind that not only enhances your interior but also makes you actively participate in reforming the prison and criminal justice system.

The incarcerated artist receives 50% of the sales proceeds. The artists set their own prices based on the costs of materials (it can vary greatly from one facility to another), the time spent on the piece, their experience, and simply - what they think it’s worth. Alongside with offering a financial outlet, we aim to empower their confidence and reinstitute their status as human beings - not a number behind bars. For most, art is an escape, a path to self-discovery and healing. Through art, they can reconnect with society so the gap is not so unbridgeable when they get out. Through the sales, they can stay connected with their families, afford daily commissary items, pay societal debts, relieve the economic burden on their loved ones, and save up for the release date. So they have the financial means to get ahead of reinsertion and get a fair chance at that second chance.

8.75" x 11.75" | Pen & colored pencils on drawing paper

Art to me is a means of escape, a way to bring peace to mind. I first knew I wanted to draw at a young age, my cousin Barney drew a Chester cheetah and I thought at the time that was the greatest. Thing I saw him draw Batman, Superman, and other superhero’s that gave me the drawing bug. I would trace my coloring book pages and color those, then when I was 14 years old I free handed the album art from Korn’s follow the lender and it looked like the album art I was very proud of this piece but it’s been lost over the past 20 years. I’ve never had formal art training. The gift I have is God given. I used to keep all my work now I give it away. It gives me joy to hear “I bought a frame and hung the drawing you sent on my wall”. Blows my mind people like my art. I started out using pencil, learned how to shake and blend. Then moved on to pen and colored pencils as my media. I have tried painting but do not have much practice at it. I am not Bob Ross. I try to draw something each day or at least once a week. When we are born, we are like a new sheet of paper; that sheet of paper is our lives. We draw on this sheet and try to produce a worthy design to the best of our untrained abilities. As we grow, we make many mistakes, we erase and redraw lines. At some point, we stand back and look at this sheet of paper and it doesn’t seem to be the art we thought it would be. We get frustrated and think of giving up but sometimes we are given a brand new sheet of paper to replace the old worn out piece. My friend Jesus is the giver of this new sheet, he guides our hand when we make mistakes. He uses his eraser, he has a tree that produces an endless suplly of brand new paper for all of those who wants a sheet. He will help you create a master piece of your life. To him, I give all credit for my talent. Thanks for the opportunity to submit my artwork and the platform to speak of what art has been for me..

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