De Colores..., by Xavier Montes ©2003
Bell Arts Factory, on the Avenue
New Site for the DeColoresArtShow
Home 2008 Exhibiting Artists Our Sponsors and Supporters Contact Information Founder of De Colores Art Show Xavier Montes
Arturo Rivas, Jr was born and raised in Oxnard, California. Since the early age of five, Art started drawing animated characters and other things he liked. He was inspired by his father who at that time liked to draw and paint portraits. Throughout elementary school and junior high, Art entered many art contests where he placed high in many competitions. Art was always fascinated with hot rods, flames, and skulls. Those are the things that he still enjoys drawing the most. At the age of nineteen Art started working with his father as a welder. With his artistic abilities, he now found the way to create art out of welded metal. Working with metal had now become his passion. He started making candle holders, ashtrays, and silhouettes. He also brought in airbrush and hand painting in to metal art. He was an off-shore welder for eighteen years, but working off-shore did not allow him to have a normal, social life or to be able to expand his dream as an artist.In 2003, Art made the choice to quit his job as an off-shore welder to pursue a career as an artist. He followed his heart and was willing to sacrifice whatever it took to become a known artist. Art went back to school to pursue a degree in Commercial Art. Since he was unemployed, he was what you might call a starving artist!During this time, Art became fascinated with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a day celebrated in the Mexican heritage. With metal, handpaint, and airbrush, he started making silhouettes of his favorite Latino icons with a Day of the Dead interpretation.Art began selling his pieces at local festivals. He donated a fifteen by twenty foot mural to Teatro Inlakech in Oxnard, California. He has participated in various group art shows. His artwork has appeared in local newspaper articles, magazines and has been displayed in galleries and musuems. He has also made signs for Hollywood celebrities, banners for non-profit and sport organizations, and silk screen designs. He also works on custom made requests. One of his most recent projects includes a twenty-four by ten foot mural for the upcoming HBO movie production, Walkout, a film directed by Edward James Olmos. Art invites you to vist his website, www.myspace.com/arturorivasjr or email him at skullart2003@yahoo.com. |
Arturo Rivas, Jr.(805) 525-8961 or Email
Xavier Montes
Websiteby Carmen Guerrero
