Sotelo is a fourth generation artist who was born in Durango, Mexico. His great grandfather, grandfather, and father were very talented artists as well. Edgar came to the U.S. to attend Texas Tech University. He graduated in 1988. He put himself through school and his pencil drawings helped to pay his expenses. His wife Michelle encouraged him to try oil painting in the early 90’s. The Sotelos have three young daughters who also have shown early artistic talent. They have lived in Sulphur Springs 13 years. At their place in Sulphur Springs, called La Joya (the jewel), they raise American Quarter Horses.
Edgar Sotelo improves his techniques with annual workshops conducted by the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America members Bruce Green and Martin Grelle in the Central Texas art community of Clifton. He has also been mentored by Cowboy Artist, Roy Anderson.
Since 1998, Edgar has gone to west Texas ranches to the spring and fall roundups and has taken thousands of photos as reference material for his paintings. He has been out to the Pitchfork in Guthrie, TX and with the cowboys out on the Tongue River ranch in Dumont, TX. The ranches cover thousands of acres of rugged west Texas land.
Honesty and respect are qualities that are so important in the code of honor that the true cowboys & charros uphold; that he diligently creates only true to life scenes in his paintings.
Edgar believes in experiencing what he paints. He does this by attending charreadas in Texas and visiting Texas ranches that allow him to ride along and observe, record, and therefore preserve, the cowboy/charro way of life. He is looking to find ranches and individuals who still do things much as they were done one hundred years ago.
Experiencing this first hand has created a deeper respect and admiration for the vanishing culture and authentic way of life. Edgar invites you to observe and appreciate that result in his work.
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