When 38-year-old Edgar Zarate Martinez picks up a pencil or a paintbrush, it’s his mother’s influence that he channels into his art.

“I was raised by a single mother,” he said. “That’s why I find women to be inspirational — because of their strength and unbreakable spirits.”

The visions he commits to paper and canvas are intended not only to honor women, but to embrace the spectrum of feminine mystery. His incredible portrait Blue Lady was a message of love for his sister, a reflection of light in life’s darkest moments.

“Whenever I am stressed, I go to my art and use it as a tool for coping. It helps me to release that stress and escape from this prison,” Martinez said, hoping his art can be a positive escape for others as well.