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Walk into T. Louis Giles? Vallejo home and you are struck by a sweeping ceiling graphic that looks like the vibrant blue shadow of a grand mosque. That expansive sweep of color, or the fact Giles painted it on his living room ceiling, came as no surprise to anyone who knows the artist. ?It?s something I wanted to do,? giles said with a shrug.Vivid and large is the kind of art to which Giles, a lifelong Vallejo resident, is drawn. The paintings that adorn his Mendocino Street home are testaments to that. One of his larger paintings, ?Two Boyz,? practically fills one wall. The portrait depicts two smiling young Jamaican cane cutters. On another wall is a warmly hued depiction of an African woman – a fruit filled metal container on her head.

A mixed media artist, Giles has dabbled in charcoal, pencil, clay and fiberglass. ?But I?ve always come back to my first love, painting,? Giles explained, as he shows off numerous works from different periods in his life.

Giles can?t remember when his interest in art began. ?I always loved to draw and play with clay, like most kids.? A product of the Vallejo public school system, Giles was encouraged by family and teachers to create art. ?People would tell me they thought my drawings were nice and that made me feel good.?

But it was Giles own intrinsic belief in himself that fed his early artistic spirit. ?I learned early that I had to trust myself and my work,? Giles said.

In the late 60s and early 70s, a young Giles enrolled in California State University, Hayward, where he majored in Fine Arts. Caught up in those turbulent times, Giles was influenced by all kinds of artists, including the colorful art of Peter Maxx and LeRoy Neiman. ?I really liked art that spoke to the times,? Giles said.

Following graduation from Hayward, Giles went on to pursue graduate studies at U.C. Davis. After two years at Davis, Giles, forever the pragmatist, was hired at Kaiser Hospital in Richmond. Married with a child, Giles realized he had to get his priorities straight. ?I knew painting would not pay the bills. I never believed you had to die for your art.?

In 2004, following a 30-year career as a senior sterilization technician with Kaiser, Giles retired. ?I never stopped painting. I would complete at least one or two paintings a

year. I did as much as I wanted to,? Giles said.

Since retirement, Giles has immersed himself in painting. Two years ago, he had a studio built right off his kitchen. The space, a window lined, light-filled painters? sanctuary, ?is the perfect place to be inspired,? he said.

?Snake Dancers,? one of his recently completed works, is perched prominently on an easel in the studio. The vibrant painting features two Ethiopian girls whose deep brown faces are adorned with traditional star patterns.

Giles delights in the realization he now can devote as much time as he chooses to the pursuit of his passion. ?I can spend the entire day here,? he said.

Giles has sold a number of paintings over the years. He was recently showcased at a private viewing in Hidden Brook. He has also made available a limited amount of signed and numbered prints of ?Snake Dancers.?

Giles is inspired by a growing number of art galleries and creative spaces sprouting up in Vallejo. He looks forward to getting together with other artists to share ideas. Meanwhile, Giles is ready to ?head out on my own. As far as I?m concerned, the sky is the limit.?

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