My Name is Cleve Bradford but my family and friends call me CJ, as I am a junior. I've been incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections for 13 years as of this writing. I was sentenced at the age of 17. What I did to get here is horrible, and I regret the people I victimized so much. If I could change the past, I most definitely would.
In 2017 I gave my heart and life to Jesus Christ and He forgave me for all of my sins and made me a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). I recently started taking up painting landscapes, mostly over the last year. I feel blessed by the Lord to be able to make art so that I may hopefully be able to put a smile on at least one person's face. With all that we as incarcerated people deal with, I find it a blessing to be able to share my gift with those on the outside and hope and pray my art brings joy to the lives of those viewing it.
