Joshua Schnizer

My name is Joshua Schnizer and I'm 45 years old and presently incarcerated in TDCJ at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville. First let my begin by saying I want to bring the beauty of art to an audience that might otherwise not have access to such a plethora of talented individuals and their creations.
Art for me has meant a great many things in some of my darkest seasons, ever since I was a child. It was a safe space to allow my mind to wander away from the thoughts of the passing of my father.
Creating seems to be an extension of me, my unique experience, how I see the world and some of my favorite things about life. My style is one that has evolved through my experiences over several decades, but if I had to give it a name, I'd call it Pop Surrealism. Realism was ever the goal as a means of gaging my abilities, but I hungered to do more than just recreate photos - I wanted to put my own spin on the work I created.
I've always been a big pop-culture nerd, inspired by the decade of the 80's and all its radical splendor, which now, for me, has moved into the realm of nostalgia. I vow to extract as much of that decadent decade as my memory will allow and pour it into my work. I gather inspiration from books, music, tv, and film. I believe that popular icons and historical novelties are perfect vehicles for incorporating various metaphors, a way to tell stories in an abstract way.
I was an active artist in several mediums before I came to prison. Fine art, digital art, and photography to name a few. I also worked briefly as an apprentice in two Houston-area tattoo shops, and my art has a tattoo quality to it. Art is my true love and passion, and I create for a few hours nearly every day. I was inspired as a young man by many of the old masters, but some of the modern masters too, such as Norman Rockwell, Bob Ross, Captain Mark, Stephen Gammel, and Greg 'Craola' Simpkins.
Art is a form of healing, meditation, as much as it is an exercise in skill, and I derive a lot of pleasure from the whole process, start to finish. But more than that, I enjoy the reactions of those who view my work when I'm done. It's their smiles and laughter as they scan a piece, trying to find all the little details I've hidden in plain sight, that reminds me that it's so much more than what I get out of it personally.
They often ask what the meaning of a particular piece is, though I tend to turn that question around on them, asking what it means to them. That's important. To me it may be deeply personal, or it may just be me being silly, and have no deep meaning at all.
I want to share my creations with anyone who truly loves art, for I know that whatever it means to them, it will find a loving home with that individual. I hope that you too will find a place for my work and that the proceeds will help to further this very noble cause they you are invested in and passionate about.
Respectfully