92-Year-Old Compton Resident Ernest Bland Showcases Art for the First Time
By Marion Apio
Ernest Bland has lived in the same house on the same street in Compton since 1963. While the neighborhood changed dramatically around him, Bland kept to a daily routine of solitude and pencil drawing. Now 92, the retired postal worker’s art is finally getting its due.
“He wasn’t looking to sell or make money. He was simply enjoying his hobby that he first discovered as a 5-year-old boy in San Antonio, Texas,” long-time friend Gary Lett said. “He often gave away his art pieces to friends and family as gifts.”
In February, the world finally got to see what had been hidden inside those walls for six decades. After a 34-year career as a safety specialist for the U.S. Postal Service and 64 years of marriage, Bland is now entering a new chapter as a professional artist.
His first-ever public art exhibition, curated by Mr. and Mrs. Gary V Lett of Lett’s Do Art in Pomona, revealed a massive body of work, including oil paintings, ceramics, and fabric art.
More than just a hobby, the exhibition showed that Bland’s long-term health and sharp memory are tied directly to his disciplined life and his passion to create.
The foundation for Bland’s skill was built long before he moved to California. In the late 1940s, his high school teacher, Mr. McGowan, recognized his talent and gave him free range to work.
Using 2H and 4H pencils, a T-square, and a triangle, Bland learned to produce what he calls a Class A product. One project, a drawing of the Lincoln Memorial, took him two months. Another, a drawing of his high school, took three.
Photo Credit: Mr. and Mrs. Gary V. Lett of Lett’s Do Art
That same patience is visible in his 1968 portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. titled “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”
To the naked eye, it is a portrait; under a magnifying glass, the texture of the hair is revealed to be the letters “MLK” and “JFK” written over and over in tiny ink.
That level of detail requires a steady hand and a focused mind—traits and Lett attributes Bland’s skills as an artist to his daily output and relatively healthy lifestyle.
While the art show featured icons like Wilt Chamberlain and Nat King Cole, the emotional center of the room was a large portrait of Bland’s daughter, Vanessa, in her Compton High School prom dress.
It is the largest piece Bland has ever made and a favorite among visitors. Even his more experimental work, like “View from Another Planet” — a painting of Earth seen from Mars — found a buyer during the two-month run.
The impact of the show on Bland himself was visible to everyone who attended. Lett noted that during the exhibition, the artist was fueled by the energy of the crowd and the recognition from local leaders.
Bland received certificates of honor from the cities of Pomona and Compton, as well as State Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park).
Photo Credit: Mr. and Mrs. Gary V. Lett of Lett’s Do Art
Family members traveled from as far away as San Antonio, Texas to witness the moment. For a man who once had a co-worker reject a portrait because she felt it didn’t look like her — a piece he still keeps today — the public praise was a long-awaited validation.
Today, Bland is no longer just drawing for himself. With his granddaughter’s help, he is setting up a website to sell his work, officially transitioning from a hobbyist to a professional in his 90s.
His life in Compton, supported by a stable home, has allowed him the freedom to keep his mind sharp and his imagination active. As Bland looks back on over 60 years of work, he remains grateful for his gift.
“Art has allowed me to be creative, use my imagination and tell stories,” he said.
