Art is survival. A young artist overcomes a visual/mental disability, childhood trauma, and incarceration for murder to grow into a thriving and famous painter.

SYNOPSIS:

This story and parody of biopics follows the tumultuous journey of Sketch, a troubled multi-racial artist (visualize Basquiat) whose young life in depressed Cairo, Illinois is achaotic blend of trauma, creativity, and absurdity.

After afflicted with an abnormal visual and mental disability of strabismus brought upon by his racist grandfather as an infant, Sketch must deal with "crazy eyes" which becomes a duality disorder. A vision of violence manifesting from one eye which conflicts with the kindness from the other. Sketch finds solace in drawing, using his art as a cathartic “flow” to control his disability. Sketch navigates a childhood marred by neglect and emotional scars enhanced further by his drug addicted, prostitute mother. His young life takes a harrowing turn when a series of unfortunate events lead to his incarceration for murder, a twist that only amplifies the surreal nature of his existence.

Sketch's prison journey is filled with dark humor and poignant moments that challenge conventions. An opportunistic prison therapist furthers Sketch’s art education and discovers his duality could be exploited and capitalized by producing dueling comics (Compassion to Assassin). His emotional and sexual education is found in a relationship with another murderer, a teen prostitute who becomes his lover and protector.

After aging out at eighteen, Sketch is an accomplished artist going back to his mournful childhood existence. However, before the reunion, his mother overdoses leaving Sketch’s emotional state spiraling back into depression and violence. Soon his deadly vision takes over and exacts vengeance on his mother’s drug dealer. But art has always been his “X-Men” superpower and savior in overcoming his disability and his life-sapping childhood. In the end the fraud and his exploitation are revealed. He discovers the popularity of his comic and receives the recognition he rightly deserves. However, he finds something more important than success. He finds the support in the love and friendships of those he drew over his young life.

Ultimately, “Sketch Retrospect" invites audiences to reflect on the complexities of the human experience, all while delivering a visually stunning and thought-provoking narrative.

SKETCH RETROSPECT