Jesus Carranza (1926-2014) was born in Mercedes, Texas and raised in Matmoros, Mexico, and later found home in San Benito, Texas. Jesus attended San Carlos Academy as a young boy where his teachers recognized his natural artistic ability and sent him with letters of recommendation to a renowned art school in Mexico City. After learning that all scholarships at the school had already been distributed, the artist was determined to succeed as an artist simply through continued practice and keen observation.