My son, Nino is an artist. I figured this out back when he was four years old and he drew a meticulous rendition of the front of our house with the most intricate details, including the coiled up hose off to one side of the garden. I distinctly remember thinking: This kid sees the world through different eyes.
Now Nino is a senior is college and I think at age twenty, he’s finally realized what I knew all along—that creating art makes him happy. For a couple of years he went down a different path, thinking that a degree in economics and accounting would offer a better chance at financial success. Luckily, this path didn’t turn out to be the right one for Nino and he changed his major to Art. Since making that decision, I don’t think I’ve seen him happier. When you follow your bliss you’re heading down the right road, no matter what.
Nino and my proud husband Rene standing in front of the gallery.
Last night our family attended Nino’s first solo art exhibit at the UCSB Art Box Gallery and I’ve got to say, I’ve never been more proud of my boy.
The title of Nino’s show is “F*** You, Pay Me”. Sorry if the profanity offends you, but hey, it’s Nino’s prerogative to express himself in any way he chooses. He’s the artist, after all.
Nino drew this by hand and digitally colorized it on the computer.
These are prints from a drawing that NIno carved by hand into some sort of material and then ran them though a print making machine.
Nino will probably kill me for including this, but he painted this for me while he was in high school and it now hangs in my music studio. It’s a rendition of five famous composers: clockwise from left, Chopin with the Polish flag; Tchaikovsky with a deck of cards because he loved to play card games; Bach with a personalized coffee mug because he had so many children; Beethoven with an apple core and dirty underwear because he was such a slob; and a young Mozart playing the violin in front. I look at this painting every day and I truly love it.
One of NIno’s earliest drawings at age four. Even then he was into cartooning.
More prints.
Pen and Ink drawing.
NIno musing on the way things are.
Another print, this time using color ink.
He really has a unique style.
Allegro non tanto 
Jess, this post really touched me. I would love to have a discussion just between us about raising young men. My 24 year old son has recently provided me with a lot of food for thought and you would be a perfect friend to have the conversation with. Thanks for sharing your wonderful son’s wonderful art.
I would love that!
Thanks for posting this, I’m so happy to see the art work. Fabulous!
Thank you, Theresa!
Nino is certainly very talented and I love that he has a unique style! His artwork will be recognized for that reason, and then people will emulate and they’ll by saying “hey, that looks like a Nino Mireles”. I feel lucky to say I know him, and his mommy very well!! 🙂 Bravo Nino!!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Vivi.
I absolutely love that drawing of the composers! Nino is very talented and good for him for expressing his unique style. You’ve got every right to be a proud mama, my friend.
Thanks, Jayne. I am so proud of him.
His angst-ridden work captures the post-911 generation’s disillusionment with the hypocrisy of… (sorry- I can’t think of any more fancy words) It’s really f*****’ good!
Thanks, Rich. I think he’s pretty f***ing talented, too!
You have a very talented son . . . and he must feel fortunate to have parents encouraging him to follow his bliss.