We all have a story to tell...this is mine.

As a San Diego Native, It all started with a little known space fantasy film called "Star Wars"  it was by far the most amazing movie I've ever seen (for a 10 year old that is) I remember begging my poor Father to take me to see it at least a dozen times....and he did : )  Thereafter I began drawing  X-Wings , Tie Fighter and battle scenes on any piece of paper I could get my hands on (it drove everyone nuts) and being the second youngest of 10 kids...Yes! you heard me right 10 kids! there was plenty of paper to be found. You could say it was my new way of escaping the realities of the world and created my own through imagination. My passion to draw continued as a kid, to a preteen, through high school and all the way into my early twenties until one day...I gave it all up to pursue a normal life for the next twenty three years until the passing of my Father in 2006.

September 13, 2006:
After the passing of my Father I decided to give my grieving Mother something very special and only two days before the funeral services. I locked myself up in my garage that night armed with a piece of paper, a No2 pencil, Q-tips and began drawing all over again realizing at that moment...to live a normal life you have to believe nothing is normal. What first started as a quick self portrait of my Father? ended up as a life collage of fond memories I had of him. It was by far the hardest 36 hours I've had to endure. Thereby finishing the drawing on time as it stood next to his final resting place. My Mother, my Family and all those in attendance loved It as we all wept by his side as it proudly hangs in my Mothers living room to this very day. 

JANUARY 2007:
My reintroduction to art was reignited as it literally saved me from the hardship and affliction that subsequently followed as my personal life was turned upside down four months after losing my Father, as I now directed my attention toward drawings as an escape route from the real world which became my salvation. It helped stimulate my mind with creativity and inspiration (instead of alcohol and anguish) that I desperately needed during the next two years of solitude. During that time with no money for school I re-taught, re-learned the art of drawing as my work vastly improved with the help of better tools/materials, and the hundreds of hours of non-stop practice and failures...believe me there was plenty of it.

January 2009:
I felt confident enough to start offering free memorial portrait drawings for family and friends when their loved ones were lost as it made me feel better knowing that my drawings  served a purpose in someones life which is priceless!  Afterwards, I began focusing on what originally inspired me when I was just a kid. You guessed it Pop Culture and Movie Icons as a new hobby, not to mention a NEW direction for my artwork and personal life which brought out the best in me.
 
January,2010:
A friend convinced my reluctant self to start displaying my drawings anywhere possible...so I did. During this new chapter my renew love for art was making a positive impact, as I started entering every local art exhibit possible which was just a taste of fulfillment that was yet to come as I learned the art of Cartooning, Pastels and Color Pencils during this time which totally rejuvenated my new social life while making new friends that inspired me to keep going and keep showing! 

March,2010:
I challenged myself again by purchasing my first canvas, brushes, acrylic paints and just started painting. OMG!...The first three attempts were disastrous and frustrating because my brushstrokes were hideous and totally sucked!   As a result, I went back to the drawing board (literally again) re-taught, re-learned the art of painting  by the way I've been drawing: carefully and patiently using a Pixilating technique in which small and distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an larger image with no brushstrokes!. Pixilating has the same characteristics as the pixels on your HDTV and/or digital photos which is better known in the Art World as Pointillism ( get the point? )  Pointillism was created by French Artist Georges Seurat. His most famous and inspirational painting "A Sunday Afternoon" took him two years to complete from 1884 -1886...amazing!1886

April 2011: 
Within a year of developing this skill, my paintings evolved piece after piece as I continue to improve and define the diligence style and patience of the Old Master in today's Pop Culture and Movie Icons. I take my art very seriously, but at the same time I'm a kid at heart because the child in me survived. Therefore transforming me into the creative adult  I am today with a great look on life because "The only time you should look back is to see how far you've come" as I continue to meet and greet new people from all walks of life at my shows/live Art demonstrations while making new friends as I love capturing the essence and expressions of people along the way.

Present Day:
My work is now recognized and appreciated by many at every exhibit I show, from Comic Con's to people’s homes, Art walks, Coffee shops, Wineries, Restaurants , respectable Galleries, Beautiful Hotels, live music concert halls and most of all...Fundraisers and Charity events because giving back is UNCONDITIONAL. So what inspires me the most? Knowing it’s never too late to do what you love : ) 

 "l can do things you cannot, You can do things I cannot; Together we can do great things"  - Mother Teresa
 
​ Here's the drawing I gave my Mother as I dedicate this website to my Father...for I am his legacy.                                                 
                                               Ruben Jaimes Sr
                                      July 1, 1923 - Sept 13, 2006
                                      Rest In Peace "Papi Chingon"