DRAWINGS

Drawings are the easiest form of art for a person in prison to produce. Anyone with a piece of blank paper and a pencil can make a work of art. In prison, an indigent inmate can get a pencil and paper. Many produce brilliant art when they do.
A good artist can make a beautiful work with only a number two pencil and a blank sheet of paper. Some units sell colored pencils. The expense of materials prevents indigent artists from drawing unless a friend supplies money on their books, or outsiders buy what are called “e-Coms” on their behalf.
Many prisons exclude outsiders who are not on an inmate’s visitation list. Thus, they deprive inmates meaningful outside contact. Because of this, an inmate’s productivity and healthy social interaction upon release is greatly diminished.
Prisons often limit items from the e-Comm system. They give different reasons for this.  They can exclude hygiene and writing materials. As a result, their actions show a certain mean spirit that we at Inmate Artwork Gallery want to reverse. Therefore, we seek to make people aware of how prison administrators deprive inmates of hope.
Yet, in these drawings you will see how attempts to destroy the dreams of these prisoners will never prevail. Enjoy.