Ismael Saincilus was born on April 24, 1940 in Petite Rivière de L'Artibonite, Haiti. He completed his primary studies at the school 'Freres de Saint Marc' and terminated his secondary studies at J.B. Damien and the Lycee Antenor Firmin, both in Port-au-Prince. In 1967, he was one of a group of artists commissioned to paint the community exhibition hall at Deschapelles. He has been director of the Ceramic Centre there for several years.

”Ismael” is a man of great integrity, simplicity and mystery. He is knowledgeable of many things, but inarguably a master in painting. He is a professional agriculture specialist, and even has a diploma as a mason. During the Duvalier’s regime, Ismael spent 7 years in prison at different times for political reasons .He is very much respected in the art world, within as well as outside of Haiti. Consequently, Ismael is well off by Haitian standards. He is usually accompanied by a few of the many young men trying to follow in his footsteps.

Ismael is the progenitor of the HYPERLINK "http://www.haitian-art-co.com/artibonite.html" 'Artibonite' style of painting with around 22 students. Some of his students are Faiderbe, Michel-Ange Altidort, Clothes Dominique, Kedson Estigene, Carlos Jn. Baptiste, Claude Joachim, Benson Myrthil, Hyggens and R. Errol Louis. His name is mentioned in almost all Haitian art books namely “Peintres Haitiens” by Gérald Alexis and “La Peinture Haitienne” by Gérald Bloncourt & Marie-José Gardère.