Airbrush artist creates portraits for grieving families

Jesus Escobar often gazes at the faces of dead people as he works.

For two years, dozens of grieving families have commissioned the south Sacramento artist to create airbrushed images of their loved ones who died tragically. The families give him photos taken of the departed in happier days, before they fell victim to gang-related violence, murders, traffic accidents or drug overdoses.

Gazing at the snapshots, Escobar – a former gang member – crafts his brilliant portraits on canvas, on T-shirts and other materials.

"When I see people who are hurting, I try not to ask too many questions about how their loved ones died," Escobar, 36, said last week of his mourning clients, who form about 20 percent of his customer base.

"You can see it on their faces that they're hurting, so I don't want to ask too many questions," he said.

When the families pick up the commissioned pieces, it's not uncommon for them to smile, then weep as they admire Escobar's work.

One of his new clients is Ferdinand Aquitania, whose son, Sean Aquitania, 21, was shot to death along with his 7-month-old son, Sean Jr., Sept. 14 outside a south Sacramento home. The slayings occurred during a home-invasion robbery of the residence, which police said may have been a drug den. The unspeakable crime drew international attention, but no arrests have been made.

In a phone interview from his Elk Grove home, Aquitania said he first became aware of Escobar's talents earlier this year.

"One of my cousins was wearing a T-shirt that showed my son and my grandson" on the front, he said.

"The detail on it was pretty lifelike," Aquitania said in a voice still pained by the loss of his beloved pair. "I was impressed by the quality of it."

As a result, he recently delivered a photo of Sean Aquitania and young Sean to Escobar, so he could turn it into a canvas portrait. The photo, different from the one depicted on the T-shirt, shows Sean Aquitania and his infant son beaming at the camera.

Last week, Escobar stood in front of an easel, with the photo attached to its side. Holding the airbrush with both hands, Escobar would glance at the photo every few seconds as he continued the process of transferring both faces onto the 18-inch-by-24-inch canvas.

When it is done, "I'm just going to mount it on a wall for remembrance," Ferdinand Aquitania said.

Working on baby Sean's face has been especially difficult, Escobar later said.

"As I was painting it, I thought about my babies," he said. "My heart really goes out to the family."

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Escobar was 11 months old when his father died.

"When I was 2, my grandparents asked my mom if they could borrow me," Escobar told The Bee five years ago.

With her permission, the grandparents immigrated with Jesus to Compton, where they raised him.

Early on, Escobar produced eye-catching drawings – first with crayons, then with pencils and watercolors.

But, by age 10, he took a wrong turn, he said, when he joined a gang in Compton.

"During that time, I didn't care what people thought about me," he said, summarizing the meaning of a tattoo that remains across his collarbone.

Written in Spanish, it reads: "This is how I am – so what?"

Escobar quit the gang life at age 25, after a rival gang fired shots at his family. The bullets missed, but he decided it was time to reform.

In 2002, Escobar made a new start. He left Southern California and came to Sacramento with his wife, Mary Pena, and their three young children.

The family lived in a tiny house on 32nd Avenue, next to the Moral Values Program, a nonprofit that steers at-risk kids toward education.

One day, MVP Director Frank Victorio saw his new neighbor working with airbrush and canvas.

Impressed by Escobar's talent, Victorio hired him to paint images of Mother Teresa and the Virgin of Guadalupe on some shirts.

After enjoying media attention, Escobar continued to work as a freelance artist.

Then, in 2005, the Escobars moved to San Antonio.

Eight months later, they returned to Sacramento.

Two years ago, Escobar opened his 12-foot-by-12-foot workshop at the SD Mart Discount Mall, at 6051 Mack Road, where passers-by stop to see him at work.

"I think he's fantastic," said Vince Kelly, 45, a shopper who watched Escobar at the easel last week. "He has a gift from God."

Escobar said he's saddened that gang violence has worsened since his first stay in Sacramento.

About 80 percent of his clients, he said, are unaffected by violence. They include teenagers and adults seeking airbrush portraits of boyfriends, girlfriends or favorite relatives.

Escobar estimates that nearly 50 bereaved families have commissioned him during the past two years.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Edgar Sanchez, (916) 321-1088.