José María Mijares Fernández was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1921. He began artistic studies in 1936 at the School of Art of San Alejandro in Havana, where his professors included Romañach, Menocal, Valderrama, Ramon Loy, and Caravia. Mijares himself credits one of his most influential professors, Ponce, with helping him develop his own style of expression.