Alfredo Rodriguez never dreamed of what he wanted to be when he grew up. He already knew. Imagination is imperative when growing up around eight siblings and Alfredo became engrossed in movies of the American Wild West and visiting local Indian reservations. At the age of 6, he received a set of watercolor paints from his mother and has never set down his brush.
Born in 1954 and raised in Mexico, Rodriguez had little opportunity to realize his God-given abilities as an artist. He just knew what he liked to do. He painted portraits of family members and scenes from old 1800s western movies that he watched on TV. Alfredo became interested in the Indian tribes that were close to his home and starting selecting different subjects for paintings. Before long, Alfredo was helping to supplement the family income through his gift.
As a young man, Rodriguez studied under Master Artist Santiago Rosas in Mexico although most of his training was self-taught. The watercolors gave way to oils and the scenes that Rodriguez creates on linen are particularly appealing and brilliant with reality. The realism of Alfredo’s paintings amazingly captures the emotions of his subjects, in addition to the public.
Beginning with subjects of Native Americans and mountain men, Rodriguez now includes paintings of small children, animals and families that resonate with feelings of genuine love and peace. They say that an artist’s age can bring about an evolution of change and in Rodriguez case, his work just keeps getting better and more compassionate.
The number of exhibitions that Rodriguez has shown is staggering since his move to California in 1975. Some of these include the Western Art Museum, San Dimas, California, Favel Museum, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and the Pearce Museum, Corsicana, Texas. Well-received by museum visitors and collectors, he continues his journeys to Indian reservations to look for new ideas. His publications are also popular with vivid paintings and are keepsakes to treasure. Awards in the category of ‘American Indian & Cowboy Artists of America’ continue to pour in and it is not hard to see that Alfredo Rodriguez has made a name for himself.
That same little boy that once seized his watercolor brush with such passion is now passing on his work to touch the lives of others. His unique presentations are no doubt, Â Â due to his God-given ability of the brush, but also the constant reminder of his strong roots and being surrounded by a simpler, more empathetic atmosphere of the world.
For not only current activities, but also past and in the years to come, continue AAPJ’s journey on artist Rodriguez at – www.alfredoartist.com.
Editor’s note: To download the digital print version, click on the type below.
Portrait of Alfredo Rodriguez-USA-Mexico
