Paul Thorsteinson

Incarcerated Artist

My name is Paul Thorsteinson. I started as a street artist, but over the years I have come to specialize in wooden architecture and acrylic painting. While they are two of my favorite loves, I have a passion for all styles and mediums: writing, poetry, watercolor, sculpture, metalwork, painting, you name it, I express it.
I try and remain dynamic and diverse when incorporating myriads of techniques to create a mosaic of the message. My most recent painting was a combination of traditional Native American Totem spliced with Japanese Sumi. My goal is to stand on the shoulders of my ancestors; not to put them underneath me but to see farther into the unwritten landscapes of human expression.
A collection of my art can be viewed on Thorwood Arts @Facebook and Thorwood Arts @Instagram. If you are interested in communicating more with me, or you want to commission a personal piece, you can communicate to my art curator who runs my site.

Paul Thorsteinson #807019, SCCC H6A-03, 191 Constantine Way, Aberdeen, WA 98520

We need more Chris Wilsons: The answer to the prison reform battle

by designedconviction | Apr 17, 2021 | Wife of a Lifer

The first time I heard about Chris Wilson was back in 2019 when he was a guest on The Daily Show, and he talked about his book: The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose. The thing that stuck out to me was that he was a man who had overcome...

Who is Wife of a Lifer?

by Sara Spears | Apr 9, 2021 | Wife of a Lifer

Part of the answer is in the title, Cecilia Conley is the wife of a lifer. That is, she is married to a man serving life without parole in prison. You may ask yourself “Why? Why would you marry someone in prison?” The answer of course is love. But it’s not just love...

Love has no Bounds: An Interview By Lizzie Kommes

by Sara Spears | Mar 24, 2021 | Wife of a Lifer

Why would you marry someone in prison? That is a question Cecelia Conley is often asked. The answer isn’t simple but it’s endearing. These nuptials have led to advocating for change and the creation of Designed Conviction. But we will get to that in a moment....

Fresh Out Life After The Penitentiary: The struggle of marriage behind bars

by designedconviction | Jan 24, 2021 | Wife of a Lifer

Link to the interview: https://youtu.be/Tapnu8caKIk About "Fresh Out - Life After the Penitentiary" America has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Two out of three ex-cons will commit an act that will lead them back to prison. Society's disdain for ex-cons...

Things that you didn’t know about being a prison girlfriend

by designedconviction | Aug 26, 2020 | Wife of a Lifer

If you are reading this post because you are curious about what it is like being a prison girlfriend. Many strong women across the country decide to start and keep these "taboo" relationships.As the wife of a man serving life in prison, I can tell you that I have been...

How Trelise Baker is helping Formerly Incarcerated Women

by designedconviction | Aug 19, 2020 | Wife of a Lifer

A non-profit focused on formerly incarcerated women of New Orleans, with a vision to reduce recidivism rates, to break the cycle. This program walks them through the process and moves them closer to reintegrating into society.

How to win free stuff

by designedconviction | Aug 12, 2020 | Wife of a Lifer

You heard it right, win free stuff to one lucky winner every Saturday, come and join us live on Youtube to win cash and prizes. https://www.youtube.com/c/DesignedCo

Tired of COVID 19? Imagine One day in Prison, then multiple it for 7000

by designedconviction | Aug 5, 2020 | Wife of a Lifer

Imagine even just one day in there, then multiply for a least 7 thousand more?
As that’s not even 20 years.
So my question is what I expect everybody to take out of this pandemic is when is enough, enough?, one day in prison, I’m sure that it would be very traumatic for me. Just one day, 20 years in more than 7,000 days. When the Incarceration objective switched from rehabilitation to punishment?.

Prison art Initiative | Kytesketch

by designedconviction | Jul 30, 2020 | Wife of a Lifer

The Episode Summary Today I have a great guest who started a prison art initiative back in 2012. Inspired by his brother, who is currently serving a life sentence. Kevin recalls it was his brother, who asked why he never wrote him a letter while serving a previous...