Painting Emotions: Living with Schizophrenia

A local artist dealing with mental illness is breaking the stigma by sharing his way of expression through artwork.

Diagnosed at the age of 17, Jose Arguelles, of Yuma, has been living with schizophrenia for ten years. An illness where thoughts and emotions can make a person feel ‘out of touch with reality’ or unable to remember daily activities with a short memory.

With the help of local resources and medication, Jose has found watercolor and acrylic painting to help him express his emotions and connect with reality. His artwork features real people of Yuma with a twist of modern art in his own style.

“You know, it’s like you’re getting all this ‘stuff’ you feel on paper. You deal with it in a good way,” said Jose. “It’s like writing a song or a poem. It’s a way to complain beautifully about it in a good way.”

He hopes anyone who is living with mental illness or anyone who does not understand schizophrenia, will be able to find a therapeutic craft to express their emotions inside.

“Instead of just saying it without much thought, you get this feeling of thoughtfulness when you look at a painting. Like someone cared to make you understand what’s going on.”

You can usually find Jose at the North End Coffeehouse or the Littlewood Community Co-Op where he is finding muses or displaying his artwork.