HOUSTON, Texas — 23-year-old Brandon Aguilar first picked up a paintbrush at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It would lead him to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Sam Houston State University.

Eventually, Brandon started developing his own unique way of painting, “I decided one day that I would drop paint brushes and use found materials to actually paint with, by doing that, I found a way to differentiate myself and bring a more meaningful impact to my art.”

The Katy resident did that and then some.

Brandon is a huge fan of the Houston Texans. For his Texans portraits, Brandon used footballs, a lot of them. He cuts the footballs up along the seams and uses the pigskin side of the ball as his brush. His portrait blew away Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud, “When I showed him, he couldn’t believe all the details weren’t painted with a brush.”

Aguilar is inspired by pushing his talents while looking to make a bigger impact. Brandon’s master plan is “how can I use my own style to inspire others to use their own style as well.”

Brandon is a 7th and 8th-grade art teacher, passing on his knowledge and inspiring tomorrow’s artists. “What I’m trying to do is make an impact with them. I want to teach them painting, sculpture, and ceramics. I want all my students to have all my knowledge so they’re set for their dreams.”