David Drymala, 28 yrs old, was born in Colorado and grew up in San Antonio, attending Clark High School. He has always been a natural artist, and began developing his exceptional talent while at Clark, specializing in oil painting.
During his teen years, however, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and at 18 with schizoaffective disorder. On the proper medications, though, he lives a fairly normal life, and is passionate about doing his art and music.
Because the symptoms of severe mental illness can affect one's judgment and decision-making, many of the mentally ill in our country find themselves in our county jails and state prisons, convicted of crimes in which their illness played a major influence. In David's case, he has spent almost three years incarcerated in county jail and state prison for such a crime. He was recently released on parole in October 2008.
His journey through the court system and the criminal justice system as a person with mental illness has been a difficult and at times tragic experience. At one point, he became so psychotic on the older psychotropic medications used in the prison that he permanently injured one of his eyes during the psychotic episode.
Sadly, his difficulties in dealing with prison life as a person with mental illness are far too common. What is unique about David, though, is that he has done artwork and poetry throughout his time of incarceration, chronicling his experiences.
His art and poetry have always depicted psychological themes, and, with his mental illness, the themes are sometimes stark and always intense. But they are psychological states that we all participate in to one degree or another, from the experience of imprisonment to the joys and sorrows of trying to maintain hope under difficult circumstances.
