Sarah Montoya

When I sit down to draw or paint, I usually go with what I feel in the moment. I express my experiences, situations, and feelings through art. Other people incarcerated within CCWF have recognized my talent and put in requests for me to make them family gifts, often with calligraphy writing. I also make stuffed animals for other mothers incarcerated to send to their children at home. This has sparked a passion within me that I want to continue when I parole.

I use a variety of mediums or materials such as drawing pencils, pens, markers, acrylic, watercolors, pastels and collage with magazines. I make stuffed animals with shirts bought from vendors allowed in quarterly boxes, or donations from others. I use acrylics to paint on faces and features, or to dye the materials.

I grew up in a muliti-cultural family of artists and found inspiration from them. I explored various materials, methods, and mediums until I found drawing, tattooing, and most importantly making stuffed animals. Stuffed animals are a way I can help families reunite even while separated by barbed wire and brick walls. In this work I feel a sense of making amends with society.