Alfredo Rodriquez Biography Continued:

Indeed he hasn't. Today Rodriguez uses those magical colors and his remarkable talent to paint images that have earned him a loyal following of collectors that span the globe. His work is carried by several galleries and is included in the permanent collection of the Favell Museum of Western Art in Oregon, the Leanin' Tree Museum in Colorado, and the Booth Museum in Georgia, as well as in the private collections of several celebrities.

Rodriguez has come a long way from those early days in Mexico. His work has been featured in several books, and he has exhibited at several prestigious art shows, including the Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles, California.

The road to Rodriguez's success began with his parents' support, which included scraping together ten pesos for each of six lessons from Santiago Rosas, a well-known Mexican artist. "I learned composition, color and solid drawing from him,” Rodriquez says, Rodriguez followed his mentor's advice and, at 14, his painting won first prize in a local art show that drew entries from 65 artists, including Rosas, who took second place.

A Texas tourist who returned year after year and bought every painting Rodriguez had available purchased Rodriguez’s winning painting, a portrait of an Indian. Soon he was commissioning Rodriguez to do other paintings from photographs he would bring with him. Finally, after becoming weary of traveling to Mexico three or four times a year, the Texan offered to bring Rodriguez to the United States. The young artist accepted the offer after he had completed the ninth grade and today lives and works from a studio at the home he shares with his wife, Cheryl, and daughters Ana, 17; Julia, 15; and Gina, 13 in Corona, California.

While Rodriguez's fame and fortune has increased, his focus has not. He continues to paint faces, lovingly and realistically. "Most of my paintings are still mountain men, Plains Indians and every once in awhile I go back to my Navajo subjects," he says. "And once in awhile I paint Mexican subjects, just to keep me fresh. Lately, I've also been painting blonde ladies. Faces to me tell the whole story. It's exciting to switch from one subject to another. The facial characteristics are totally different. It's exciting.

Rodriguez continues to do firsthand research for his paintings, visiting a reservation and attending a rendezvous at least once a year for inspiration and subject matter. "I love painting the West, and that's the only way I can get my subjects," he says. "I want to be as authentic as I can, so I do a lot of research."

What does the future hold for this talented, unassuming artist? "I don't know," he responds. "I'm just happy to be able to paint. I hope I can continue to improve my work and become a much better painter. I have always been an artist, now I have to become a better painter. I have great expectations for myself."

Return to the Art of Alfredo Rodriquez