Calendar, Interviews and Appearances for Jesse Raudales in 2009

At Last, An Artist with Swagger:  Jesse Raudales

(Actually, his real name is Jesus(not Hesus).  Born without a pulse, the doctors told his mother he was dead.  She refused to accept it and asked to hold him and then she prayed.  Moments later, his vital signs returned and she decided to name him Jesus because of his “miracle” birth. 

Today, Jesus goes by his nickname, Jesse, but is making a name for himself in his artwork.  Hailed by many as a “popular artist”, his last art show was hosted by Jermaine Jackson (yes, Michael’s brother).  He designed Barack Obama’s DVD cover and is determined to let his work speak volumes.  Raudales even has a clothing and shoe line. 

Political Swagger recently caught up with this Olympic Artist to discuss his “artistic swagger.” Did you know there were artist in the Olympics?) 

Political Swagger(P. Swagger):  When did you first discover your artistic talent and how did family react?

Jesse Raudales(JR):  My mother-the woman who prayed to bring me back to life after I was born dead, named me after the Savior Jesus and the angel Guadalupe, and dressed me in burlap robes, she did not cut my hair until I was five years old. She knew since the age of four, I had shown a natural talent for art. She advised me to not take for granted the talent God gave me, and I took her sage counsel.

P.Swagger:  How did you become an Olympic artist and who inspired you? (Note: Not Only is Raudales the only minority artist of the seven, coming from Afro-Latin roots, but he is also virtually unknown in the art world compared to his Olympic peers, Jane Seymour and Peter Maxx. He is also the only one without sponsorship.)

JR: Well, hundreds of thousands of artists submit their artwork for each Olympics and 7 are selected by the Olympic Committee. I am also the only Olympic artist to ever have 3 paintings at the same Olympics as well as being the youngest Artist selected for the Olympics. The Olympic Committee created a tri-colored poster of my son’s face the title reads, “Peace for the Children of the World,” “because I just feel at peace when I am with my child, my son.” My inspiration comes from my feelings or current events.

P. Swagger:  An artist friend of mine once told me that depression is the opposite of expression.  How important is artistic expression for you and for other young people in general?

JR: I am a very versatile artist, or a “mood artist,” “I combine oil with spray paint, or pencil with acrylics, or watercolors with ink. Mixed media is really my favorite medium to work with.” I like to think of myself as a modern-age Michelangelo, having worked on children’s books, greeting cards, story-boards, logos, graphic design, murals, paintings, and inventions. I paint how I feel at the moment and I paint current affairs or whatever is happening in the world today. I like to tell a story like artists of the past before there was media, newspapers, TV or the net. Artists paint stories and that’s what I like to do and express through my art.

P. Swagger:  What is your vision for your art and what are your upcoming projects?

JR: I am a "mood painter" and the world and its current events inspire many of my paintings. After Katrina, I was watching the news footage of the New Orleans community desperately trying to find food and water. I immediately picked up my brush and painted a little boy drinking out of a water hose. It was one of the saddest things I had ever witnessed after a natural disaster in our country. “I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t do drugs.  My high is seeing somebody purchase a piece of my art, or even appreciate my artwork.”  I always tell kids that “you don’t have to do those things to be popular.  I was always considered popular and I never did any of that.”

I feel blessed and honored, especially to have my son’s face on the Olympic posters. “I never thought I would ever love another person as much as I love my son.” I only wish more fathers would create such a bond with their own kids: “I want to tell single fathers, minority fathers, that to be there for your child it is a beautiful thing, and it’s just a bond that’s unexplainable.”

As far as upcoming projects I have inked a deal with Charles Bibbs and his 626 art gallery, where you can always find some of my artwork there as well as reprints.  I have an art show in Washington D.C. in the beginning of 2009. I have also created some original Obama paintings for an all-star celebrity event to help raise money for his campaign. I have also illustrated and designed a new book for North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Bank. They will be having a celebration later this year for their 110^th anniversary of being in business. I have been creating artwork for my own fashion tees, skateboards, mousepads and Keds tennis shoes etc…which you can purchase by going to my website: www.jesseraudales.com

P. Swagger: We're seeing so many artists, from music to fashion, get involved with this Election. Artists have always been at the forefront of change. This generation is such a visual culture; you got your Political Swagger on by designing Barack Obama's DVA cover. How did that come about?

JR: I was selected as the Artist to design the Barack Obama DVD/CD cover by Pearl Jr and her husband Cecil who are the directors of the documentary. She has been following my career for a while and said that I was the only artist that she had in mind to create the cover. They let me GO as an Artist and told me to just create, so I did! You can buy the DVD at: www.TRUtalk.us

God is great all the time. I was born an Artist and have been getting blessed over and over again and again because the talent that the Lord has blessed me with is being used for the right reasons and I always give him the Glory no matter what!

P. Swagger:  And what other ways are you using your swagger to affect change?

JR: Many influential personalities such as Martin Luther King Jr., Walt Walker and our new Presidential candidate, Barack Obama have inspired me to paint over the years. The recent election is a turning point in American politics. Obama is the first African American to be nominated by a major political party for president and we have a real chance as Americans to elect Democrat, Barack as the next President of the United States. As a multi-ethnic American living in the United States, I am a proud supporter of his platform and his campaign. Barack Obama stands for Equal Rights and bringing a change to what our nation needs most. As an artist, I'm a huge supporter of change in hopes that "peace" be at the center of our nation's transition during the coming years.

P. Swagger:  Thank you.