Recently, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry was honored with a visit from a local artist whose work many of our alumni may recognize without realizing it. If you've been on the 5th floor of Prince Hall, you might have noticed five incredible hand-drawn pieces hanging there, each depicting different aspects of dentistry. These pieces were originally purchased by Col. Robert Clement, a long-time faculty member who eventually became the director of clinical services.
This past July, artist and veteran Mike Gonzales visited the School to donate 800 limited-edition signed prints of his original hand-drawn art. He took the time to share his story about how the pieces were created and the inspiration behind them.
Mike was born into a Mexican-American family in Los Angeles County as one of ten children. He credits his father, Henry Romo Gonzales, as his motivator and inspiration for drawing. Mike fondly remembers sitting at the kitchen table with his father, doodling on brown paper bags with pencils. He continued to pursue his passion for art throughout high school and college, taking illustration and drafting classes to enhance his skills further. After college, Mike joined the Army and became a combat medic, earning the Bronze Star for Valor. Even during his military service, he found comfort and peace in drawing.
In 1983, during a visit to his dentist, Mike was challenged to create an illustration that conveyed the consequences of poor dental hygiene choices. This led him to begin his first dental piece, titled "Reconstruction." After several preliminary sketches, Mike used a 22" x 30" Bristol board and a No. 0000 Rapidograph ink pen to create the illustration you see here. Completing this first piece took him three years, partly because he lived in an apartment without air conditioning. Concerned about sweating on his drawing during the hot summer months, he often had to take breaks from working on it. He also wanted the illustration to be highly detailed, aiming to include as much detail as possible for the viewer to discover.
Once finished, Mike's wife, Lynne, encouraged him to sell prints of the artwork, believing that many dentists would appreciate it. With support from her family, Mike and Lynne founded Gonzales Graphics and printed 750 limited edition prints. Their first run was challenging, but they were fortunate to have an advertisement in Dental Products Reports Magazine, which helped launch Mike's new business as orders began to come in.
In the years that followed, Mike created four additional illustrations, each based on a different aspect of dentistry. "Bridgeworks" was inspired by a playful interpretation of the word "bridge," with much of the equipment referenced from what Mike observed while working at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and living in the oil fields of Santa Fe Springs.
The next piece, "Ortho Line," playfully captures how children view orthodontics, incorporating Mike's love of trains and trolleys. For "Endo-Oil," he was determined to depict anatomy as accurately as possible. He visited the School of Dentistry multiple times to review books in the library housed within Prince Hall. His final piece in the series, "Floss-O-Matic," is a delightful illustration that emphasizes the importance of oral hygiene, and the effort required to maintain a clean and healthy smile.
Mike continues to create illustrations and art today, finding new methods due to an essential tremor in his hands. He is currently working with physical therapy and is making good progress. When asked about his art, Mike expressed that he finds a great deal of healing through it. His generous donation is incredibly meaningful to the School. Pictured are Dean Handysides, Mike, and his daughter, Dr. Jennifer Carson, posing with one of the signed prints.
