SQNews continues to discover talented incarcerated men who express themselves through the gift of art.
Quinterrious Clark, 48, a San Quentin resident, has developed his own characters and brought them to life in his cartoon series, Sam’s Aqua Adventures and related spin-offs. Quint’s character style is colorful and entertaining, though he also ventures into Western realism and other genres.
He has been drawing since he was 10 years old. At that young age he started with character pictures of his parents, siblings and family members who posed for him as he went to work creating them as characters.
It was not long before he realized that he had a gift and allowed himself to become more creative in his projects. During his incarceration he has not limited himself and has allowed his imagination to go wild by giving life to his characters.
“I found serenity through drawing my pictures,” said Clark.
found serenity through drawing my pictures… Through my art, I am giving back to my community, either in prison or outside in society.
—Quinterrious Clark
boy sitting on the sun who is creating the universe; the boy is also holding the earth and the moon in his hands. This particular drawing is called Young Jesus, because according to the artist, Young Jesus created the earth along with his father.
Clark told SQNews that he always wanted to draw for a newspaper or a magazine. His dreams have now come true.
One of his many pieces that he considers a standout is a Western-style picture of a cowboy who is hiding in the bushes with his revolver in his hand, aiming at oncoming enemies, while an eagle soars across the horizon searching for his meal in the middle of the desert. Clark describes how this eagle already sees his meal and is getting ready to get it.
Clark named this picture “Pending Danger” because he feels that we’re all surrounded by danger. He mentioned how complicated this project was for him; it took him three days to complete.
He also sketched a skull on top of a broken-open light bulb, and says that the light bulb represents life itself. The broken glass of the bulb symbolizes shattered life, the Light of Death.
“I called this the ‘Light of Death’ because our lives go through a cycle of light and then that light goes out at the end, symbolizing death,” said Clark.
Sam’s adventures allow Clark to stretch himself creatively, and the cartoon features some of his new friends, which are based on different parts of his own personality. The comic features a shark named Sam and a fish name Rasco. Sam and Rasco are best friends: Rasco feels down, emotionally, and Sam is like a big brother trying to lift up Rasco’s spirits.
“Part of Sam’s Aqua Adventures is that they are always getting into something like two young adults,” said Clark.
Clark described how Rasco has a job at a barnacle company, knocking the barnacles off the boats with a chisel and hammer.
“Sam is unemployed and goes around looking for things to get into,” said Clark. “He is looking for adventures.”
There are other characters too, like Rasco’s boss who is a catfish named Cat, and a preacher named Petey the Preacher, who is also a fish, and let’s not forget to mention Rasco’s wife, Gabby, a guppy fish, and many other friendly characters.
I found serenity through drawing my pictures… Through my art, I am giving back to my community, either in prison or outside in society.
—Quinterrious Clark
Clark has lately been working on his newest project, Sam & Friends. It’s an Aqua Adventures spin-off cartoon series with father-and-son seahorses.
“Through my art I am giving back to my community,” said Clark, “either in prison or outside in society.”
When asked why he pursues that style in prison, Clark says, “I always thought about drawing stuff for museums, because I wanted other people to see my work.”
He proudly displayed his art on a table, admitting with a smile how this is therapeutic and beneficial for him.
“It soothes my mind and it takes me out of all my negative elements just in general,” said Clark.
Clark’s artistic ways know no barriers. He also writes poetry for his audiences — let’s not forget that art is a universal language.
