Mexican artist’s intricate sketchings in cafe surroundings

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Jesus Chairez, a Texan who now lives in Mexico City’s Santa Maria la Ribera neighborhood and runs his own blog, often sees an 80-year-old artist, Humberto Martinez, drawing sketches using a fine-point black Bic pen at a cafe.

‘I find Martinez’ work most fascinating because it is filled with fine zigzag lines. And at 80-years old he does this without glasses too. Martinez’ work reminds me of the late Mexican artist, Martin Ramirez. Ramirez was a Mexican immigrant who spent more than 30 years in California psychiatric hospitals making art few people valued, like this artist Humberto Martinez. Though Martinez is not crazy I think his work is not valued either, evident by the people who seem to not even notice him draw nor give him any attention,’ writes Chairez.

‘Though I have always said hello to Martinez, today we spoke – this is how I found out he was 80-years old. Martinez also said that he has been drawing for the last 70 years and that he was really a painter, but he prefers using this medium. Most probably because of the environment he finds himself in – cafés.’

Read the full post here. -- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City