We are Oscar and Stephanie. The founders and operators of Painted Papyrus.
We believe in the power of art to inspire, motivate, heal, and connect people and communities in the purpose of creating a better world. All the art created and sold in the Painted Papyrus Market is inspired by this belief, whether it is an art print to be hung in a home or a sticker displayed on a favorite item.
In our pursuit of a more harmonious world, we want to reduce excess and waste in our production and shipping. We attempt to create products that are not only visually interesting but sustainable. All of our art prints are printed on nothing less than archival (acid-free) quality art papers ensuring their long-lasting and are sourced from companies in the United States, reducing emissions from transportation. Our stickers are printed on waterproof vinyl with waterproof inks, giving them durability. In shipping, we make every effort to ensure that all packaging material is recyclable and/or biodegradable. We will continue to search out ways to increase the sustainability of our production and shipping processes by limiting or getting rid of unsustainable products.
Art is a way of life for us and our three boys. As a family, we are driven to create through art and music. Our boys love drawing, creating comics, and playing their instruments (piano and guitar). Turning our love for art into a small business feels like a natural extension of our way of life.
Join us on Instagram @oscar_eduardo_de_paz and @painted_papyrus to say hi and keep in touch with announcements and developments at Painted Papyrus Market.
Thank you,
Oscar and Stephanie
ABOUT THE ARTIST (Oscar)
Art helped me develop the tools to deal with the uncertain and tumultuous times of my early life. I grew up on the northside of Chicago, the son of an immigrant father from Guatemala and an American mother that never attended high school and that passed away prematurely when I was four. I grew up in section 8 housing on a block between two rival gang factions. My future's outlook was dismal at best. In school and at home, art, whether drawing or writing poetry, allowed me to craft a positive identity, envision a better future for myself and the world than the ever-present reality outside my window. My vision would face challenges. Absent a solid primary education and the dissolution of my family support network, I found myself a high-school drop-out and homeless at sixteen. Art was a place of refuge, providing solace, a community, and a network that enabled me to not only survive the familial and educational dysfunction that beset my early life but to find social and economic opportunities.
Inspired by the graffiti art in my neighborhood, my childhood love of drawing grew into painting murals. I was lucky enough to befriend a group of very talented self-taught artists. I worked alongside them painting murals on local businesses, public schools, and even in people’s homes. My experience with art would also provide opportunities to assist in creating public art sculptures and installations, work in art galleries and art shows, as well as painting murals. My graffiti art background would transform into an interest into illustrating zines and comics using pen and ink. I fancy myself a prolific and insatiable doodler that finds it nearly impossible to resist doodling on nearly any surface. I am very fond of doodling on coffee chains’ coffee cups.
While art provided for me personally, my experience of poverty and family dysfunction and the power of art to inspire, motivate, and heal pushed me to seek opportunities for serving underserved peoples and communities. I joined a national service organization that focused on building the capacity of community-based social service organizations providing services to their local community in partnership with local churches. I was sent to Philadelphia to work with an arts-based community organization. As an instructor, I worked with fellow instructors and the community to develop arts-based curriculums using poetry, rap, photography, fine arts, and multimedia arts to give students the tools and space to reflect on, voice, and address social and environmental issues in their communities. I have carried these experiences with me throughout my life as a source of inspiration for finding a way to use my effort and abilities to contribute to improving the living conditions of impoverished and disadvantaged communities which is inextricably tied to improving the health and conditions of the Earth and animals.
The seed for combing my art as a means for expressing care, pursuing change in the world, and a small business was planted by the pandemic and my three boys (they love drawing and creating comics). The pandemic has been a vivid reminder of arts’ power to build resilience and hope in individuals, families, and communities. The spark lit; I immersed myself in art classes at several university extensions. The spark would grow into a raging bonfire; My purpose had been found.