Louis Escobedo Works

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Santa Fe, NM

Louis Escobedo was born in Sweetwater, Texas, where his interest in art as a youngster was inspired by colorful finger paint. At age of six, his painting “Horseback” was chosen as the best painting in his elementary school. He went on to receive a BFA in Advertising Art from the State University in Huntsville, Texas. After graduation he began his career as a technical illustrator and then a freelance illustrator. As a freelance illustrator in 1981 he received a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York and several other awards from many organizations in Texas. 

In 1985, he shifted his professional focus from illustration to fine art. He became adept experimenting with composition and design, and seeing life and objects from a philosophical point of view characterized by beauty, thoughtfulness, and around 1990 his new career in fine art took off. Louis and his wife moved to Colorado in 1990, putting him within close range of the rugged landscape which helped build his reputation as a fine artist. Louis exhibited in galleries across the country including California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, and in 1994, Louis was awarded the Gold Medal from the prestigious Oil Painters of American (OPA), an organization that champions the highest standards representational art. The Gold Medal Award is OPA’s top accolade in its Juried Exhibition. In 2013 Louis returned to OPA and became OPA Signature Member receiving many awards, including another Gold Medal from the National Juried Exhibition for his painting in 2014. He is one of only two artists to have received the OPA Gold Medal award twice in the last 27 years. Louis and his wife now live in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in representational oil painting, the Board of Directors of Oil Painters of Americas awarded Louis the status of Master Signature Member. This designation is based upon recognition of his mastery of oil painting and accomplishments in the world of representational art. This is a prestigious honor.

"Whether its people walking down the street, a kitchen sink, or a beautiful landscape, I strive for my paintings have imagination, color, and insight of all that I see and feel. I’m always striving to master my use of color, tone and texture. Color is like a person’s signature, if it’s the right color, I have to have it. And when I find those colors I feel it immediately, like hearing music so beautiful that I have to stop whatever else I’m doing and listen. My paintings are from my point of view which is composition, value, color, and emotion.

Education: Bachelors Degree Advertising Art Sam Houston State University

Awards and Honors: 2019 Award of Excellence Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition; 2016 Award of Excellence Oil Painters of America Online Show; 2016 Award of Excellence Oil Painters of America Salon Exhibition; 2014 Gold Medal ($25,000.00 Award) from the National Oil Painters of America Exhibition; 2013 Summer Salon Award National Oil Painters of America Exhibition in Michigan; 2012 John Young Hunter Memorial Award, Allied Artists of America 99th Annual National Show, NYC; 2012 Most Original Award of  Excellence from the National Oil Painters of America Exhibition, Colorado; 1994 “Gold Medal” Award National Oil Painters of America Exhibition 

Selected Publications: Southwest Art, “Postcards From the West” preview, November 2016; Southwest Art, “Vibrant & Eloquent”, January 2015; American Art Collector, “Color At Play” September 2014; Southwest Art, “Honoring the Inner Voice”, November 2002; Best of Portrait Painting,; North Light Books, 1998; Southwest Art, OPA Winners”, May 1997; Art Talk, “An Artist Worth Watching”, June 1994; Artist's Magazine Cover, “Seeing Beyond Your Subject”, February 1994

Selected Exhibitions: Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale 2019, 2020; Oil Painters of America National Exhibitions; Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, Virginia; Colorado History Museum; Denver Art Museum; Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio; Phippen Museum, Prescott, Arizona 

Representation: 717 Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico; Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts, Mount Carmel Utah; Wildhorse Gallery, Steamboat Springs Colorado