On February 12, we walked out of our class during the 2nd hour to sit with our peers in the Richwoods High School auditorium. There was a tall man in a black blazer standing in the front of the room. Mr. Fauser introduced him as Mr. Jonathon Romain.
The students clapped not knowing who he was. It turned out that Mr. Romain was an artist, motivational speaker, photographer, and entrepreneur. He started to tell the students about his childhood, which seemed extraordinary for many students of Richwoods. He told us how he was used to seeing criminal activities around him, whether it be by his own relatives or people down the street in his neighborhood in Chicago. Somehow Mr. Romain knew that if he did not change, he would end up having the same life as people he knew. Even though he was at the bottom ten percent of his class, he decided to enroll at Triton College, a public community college in River Grove, Illinois. After a year at Triton College, he was able to transfer to Bradley University in Peoria. He thought it was going to be a life-changing moment for him.
His path to success was becoming visible when he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. However, two weeks after graduation, he was arrested for selling cocaine and was sentenced to 15 years in prison at the Dixon Correctional Center. Going to prison made him think of how he really wanted to change his life and how he wanted to pursue his passion in art. He did not receive any training but just watched other inmates sketch or paint. With his talent, he was able to learn about all the art tools and learn how to paint in different styles. In the end, he went to prison for a total of 7 years. When he was released, he became a full time artist, selling his art all across the United States. For example, he has sold his paintings to Oprah Winfrey, Sydney Poitier, and former President Bill Clinton.
His art, focusing on African American lifestyles, has allowed him to open a gallery and his own non-profit organization. Mr. Romain and his wife co-founded a community art center called Art Inc. in Peoria. His organization offers afterschool programs, summer camps, and activities for children to enjoy. Mr. Romain has changed his life tremendously by becoming a motivational speaker at different places including our school and teaching other people especially children not to make the same mistake as he did.
References:
“Romain Art.” Artbyromain, 2017, www.artbyromain.com. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
“Meet Jonathon Romain.” Canvasrebel, 2 December 2024,
https://canvasrebel.com/meet-jonathon-romain. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
