Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Raudales.
Hi Jesse, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Jesse Raudales, born Jesus Guadalupe Raudales. My mother named me after making a promise to the Lord and the angel Guadalupe after I was born stillborn and miraculously came back to life. From the very beginning, my life has always felt like it had purpose.
I grew up drawing and painting as a kid, not realizing that what I loved doing would one day become my life’s calling. Art became my way of understanding the world around me. Over time I discovered that I wasn’t just painting pictures I was painting moments, emotions, and history. I consider myself a “mood artist,” someone who documents what is happening in the world through art.
My journey took me from painting in small spaces and sometimes just trying to survive as an artist, to eventually being recognized on a much larger stage. In 2006, I was honored to become the first Latino Olympic artist to represent the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics alongside artists like Jane Seymour and Peter Max. I was commissioned to create a piece to commemorate the U.S. Olympic Team and the United States Olympic Committee, and that painting was titled “Peace for the Children of the World.”
Over the years, my work has been collected by celebrities, leaders, and everyday people who connect with the message behind my art. But what matters most to me is using my gift to inspire others especially young people to believe that their circumstances don’t define their future.
I’ve always believed in one guiding principle in my life and my art:
“Being an artist is my gift to the world. Being Latino is my relationship with the world.”
Today, I continue to paint, speak to youth, and use my platform to uplift communities through art, culture, and storytelling.
I am also the Executive Director of the OIC of Anne Arundel County, Inc. and the First Latino executive Director for any OIC. OIC stands for Opportunities Industrialization Center. Their main mission is to help people especially those who are unemployed, low-income, or facing barriers improve their lives through education, training, and workforce development.
In January of 2026, I had the honor of receiving the Alan Hillard Legum Civil Rights Award at the 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Dinner in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The award was presented by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee and the Caucus of African American Leaders, and it recognizes individuals whose work speaks to civil rights and global cultural issues.
Receiving that award meant a lot to me because much of my art has always been about documenting what is happening in the world. I consider myself a mood artist I paint the emotions and the moments that shape our history. Whether it’s justice, struggle, hope, or unity, those themes naturally show up in my work.
To receive the award from Maryland Governor Wes Moore made the moment even more special. Standing there, I felt that the recognition wasn’t just for me as an artist, but for the idea that art itself can be a voice for civil rights and human dignity.
Dr. King believed that everyone has the power to contribute to justice in their own way. My way has always been through the paintbrush. Through my art, I try to remind people that our stories, our struggles, and our dreams are all connected.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, the road has definitely not been smooth. One of the biggest turning points in my life happened when I received an art scholarship to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta. For a young artist like me, that scholarship meant everything it meant someone believed in my talent and my future.
But then budget cuts hit, and like what often happens in education, the arts were the first thing to go. My scholarship was cut. In that moment, it felt like the door to my dream had suddenly been closed.
I had a choice to make give up or keep going.
Instead of quitting, I made a bold decision. I moved to Los Angeles to chase my dream as an artist. It wasn’t easy. I struggled, I sacrificed, and there were many moments when success felt far away. But I stayed committed to my gift.
Years later, that journey led me to something I could never have imagined. I became the first Latino Olympic Artist to represent the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where I was selected alongside Jane Seymour and legendary pop artist Peter Max.
What’s interesting is that many of the students who graduated from that college program eventually went on to do other things and are no longer working in art. Today, some of them actually come to my art exhibits.
That experience taught me something important: a setback does not define your future. Sometimes when one door closes, it forces you to create a path that is even bigger than the one you originally planned.
I always tell young artists don’t let someone else’s budget cut your dream.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As Executive Director of the OIC of Anne Arundel County, our mission is simple but powerful: we help people change their lives through education, job training, and opportunity. OIC stands for Opportunities Industrialization Center, and for decades our organization has focused on helping individuals who may have been overlooked or underserved gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s workforce.
What we do is provide free education and workforce development programs to residents of Anne Arundel County. Our programs include GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), job readiness training, digital literacy, and career pathway programs that help people move from learning into meaningful employment. We also provide technology access, including computers and internet support, so that no one is left behind in the digital age.
One of the things that sets our organization apart is that we don’t just teach skills we help people rebuild confidence and see new possibilities for their future. Many of our students come to us facing real barriers, whether it’s lack of education, language challenges, or economic hardship. Our role is to help them break cycles and build new pathways for themselves and their families.
Another unique part of our work is that we believe in holistic empowerment. Education is important, but so is healing, creativity, and self-expression. That’s why we’ve also introduced innovative programs like Therapy Through Art, which helps youth and community members process emotions and experiences through creativity.
What I am most proud of, brand-wise, is that OIC represents hope and second chances. When people walk through our doors, they are not just enrolling in a class they are stepping into a community that believes in their potential.
At the end of the day, our goal is to help people move from opportunity to independence. When someone earns their GED, gets their first job, or realizes they are capable of more than they believed, that is the real success of our organization.
What I want readers to know is that OIC is not just a training center it’s a place where lives are transformed and futures are rebuilt.
How do you think about happiness?
When I think about what I’m most proud of, it goes beyond my art or any recognition I’ve received. One of the greatest blessings in my life is my son, Jesse Raudales, also known as Jesse Raudales, Jr. I’m incredibly proud of the young man he has become. As a father, watching your child grow into someone with character, integrity, and purpose is one of the greatest rewards you can experience.
He has built his own path and his own business in the tech and gaming world, and I respect that he chose to follow his own vision rather than simply walk in my footsteps as an artist. That independence and determination means a lot to me.
At the same time, a big part of my life’s purpose has always been about impacting the next generation. Through my art, my speaking engagements, and my work in the community, I try to inspire young people to believe that their circumstances don’t define their future. I want them to see that creativity, discipline, and belief in themselves can take them further than they ever imagined.
For me, legacy is not just about paintings hanging on walls. Legacy is about the people you inspire, the youth you guide, and the doors you open for others.
If my work can help a young person believe in their dreams, and if my son continues to grow and make his own positive impact in the world, then I know that the legacy I’m building will live far beyond me.
Pricing:
- Different prices for my Artwork on my website
- OIC services are free to Anne Arundel County
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jesseraudales.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesseraudales/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesseraudales/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-raudales-77381618/
- Twitter: https://x.com/RaudalesJesse
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jesseraudales
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jesseraudales/video/7612835236036021517
