Print-sized Prodigy

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Every artist was once an amateur." Emerson never met Osmar.

At the tender age of two years and five months, Pete "Osmar" Hernandez is already considered a professional, auctioning his pieces for anywhere between $350 to $2,500. He earned nearly $3,000 for his 9-by-12 inch acrylic masterpiece "Universal Faces."

Osmar's "Banana OlÈ," a surreal depiction of a flamenco-dancing banana in a red skirt, won a blue ribbon at the Women's Club Festival of Art in San Diego.

On May 23 The Art Kids of San Diego County (TAKOSDC) will be volunteering at Southwestern College's Crown Cove Aquatic Center open house and will be bringing their pint-sized Picasso along with them.

In June Osmar is scheduled to compete in the San Diego County Fair despite the contest's minimum age requirement. They were waived on the grounds of his renown professional status.

"I would define Osmar as an abstract, visionary artist," said Howard Woodward, founding director of TAKOSDC. "Osmar knows exactly what he's doing and I won't be able to make it out until he says ‘done.' We just give him an opportunity to express himself."

Last year Woodward was face painting in Imperial Beach during The U.S. Open Sand Castle competition when he met one-year-old Osmar Woodward was preparing to paint Osmar's face when he noticed the child's intense curiosity with paintbrushes.

"He told Osmar to use yellow and Osmar would use yellow," said his mother, Alicia Hernandez. "He told Osmar to paint up and Osmar would paint up. I had no idea Osmar could even recognize colors. Howard really opened up our eyes."

Woodward explained that the source of Osmar's inspiration comes from the camaraderie from the peers in the organization. TAKOSDC currently hones the skills of 36 members ranging in ages from 2 to 18. Southwest High School senior Josue Merigo has been with the program for five years and has sold many of his works. Merigo serves as a mentor to Osmar.

"You can definitely see the potential in Osmar," said Merigo. "His work is mature. Knowing it came from such a young kid is just amazing."

Woodward also credits Osmar's enthusiasm with paint to a child's need for validation.
"This is why we work outside, not cooped up in a studio," said Woodward. "People see us painting and they always say how great, how beautiful our work is. Children need to feel validated for their work."

TAKOSDC's goal is to teach kids to be better artists as well as how to sell and market themselves as professionals. Osmar is growing in these aspects all while growing as a toddler.

"We're all under Osmar's schedule. We go with his flow," said Osmar's father, Omar Hernandez. "When he gets fussy, we give him a sketchbook to calm him down. He's gone through two sketchbooks already."

Osmar has recently been experimenting sculpture, photography and drawing, showcasing much of his work on utility boxes throughout the county on his website and at volunteer venues.

The open house on May 23 will be Osmar's first appearance at an SWC event. Count on many more to come.