Jeffrey Isom

My name is Jeffrey Allen Isom. I am a third striker doing life at San Quentin state prison. In my art I wish to give back to my victims or anyone I ever affected by my criminal behavior, and change perceptions about how people view incarcerated persons.

When I was a child, my mother Peggy would make little drawings, even while talking on the phone, which had a profound influence on me as an artist. That is the inspiration for my landscapes and nature portrayals. I’m captivated by the classical realism of artists like Rembrandt. I enjoy showing what I’ve learned, using color to achieve similar effects as in a black and white tonal scale. I like to work in oils, first creating an underpainting in orange hue acrylic, like the Old Dutch masters. I’m also inspired by Southwestern art.

I design my art around things I am passionate about. I care for the generations of those who follow me, so I create work that addresses climate change. I sincerely want to make a difference through my art. I care deeply about racism and how Asians are being attacked and even sometimes murdered due to the ignorance and hate of those who think they are the reason for bringing the pandemic on them. I reflect a political view and demonstrate the injustice in our own prison system. I do these things because I care about them and want to honor all the people I have affected negatively in my life with hopes to give back to the community in a positive way. 

Read more about Jeffrey’s work: San Quentin News, Isom finds relief at the tip of his brush