Since my childhood I’ve been fascinated with art, specifically drawing. While watching numerous artists work their craft, I stood gazing in amazement, coupled with complete silence, admiring their artistic genius. Secretly I wish I had a smidge of their talent and vision! For years a burning desire to learn how to draw rested upon my heart in mind.
In 2021 the Covid pandemic began sweeping across the nation. Covid's poisonous tentacles reached into this prison and spread like wildfire. The prison was placed on an administrative lockdown that only allowed us to exit our cells for 30 minutes a day. Even though our movement was limited, the issue of life kept on going. Holidays, birthdays, and days of remembrance were approaching quickly. My tradition was to send them a card, but the pandemic changed things dramatically by limiting our purchase abilities at the commissary.
There were no cards available to purchase. With anxious thought of an alternative move, the words "draw them something" came to mind. I found a pencil and started drawing simple, cartoon characters, (i.e. Charlie Brown Snoopy…) Next time I began sketching, different flowers, animals, and nature landscapes. One day my cellmate Korey said, "hey that’s really good!" Other individuals in custody began to offer compliments and even an officer said, "man that’s nice." People on the outside also sent word that they liked the drawings.
All of these encouraging words stoked a fiery passion to draw more and get better. But to really accomplish a great drawing ability, I knew what I had to do. So I prayed and asked God to help me become an artist. My finished pieces are the answer to that prayer.
The windmill is my first completed piece. Pencil drawing has opened up my eyes more to see the brilliance, beauty, and magnificence of creation. Seeing the shade, lines, and curves of life produces a melody of my heart that must be expressed through drafting my interpretation of what I have seen. I hope my art brings you as much inspiration joy as it brought to me by drawing it.
