Posted By Natalie Keller on Jul 23, 2014

By Natalie Keller

It’s difficult to know where to begin when writing about Eddie Lopez.  The word eccentric comes to mind, along with gentle, kind, and soft spoken. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever known, and I think he can truly make a difference in most peoples’ art. Eddie is a remarkable artist and teacher who has been doing what he does best for over 50 years…just being Eddie! He was born in Jerome, AZ in 1943 and later moved with his family to Phoenix where he went to school.

Eddie was always a curious child, known to be constantly drawing and taking in everything around him. He became known as “the resident artist” everywhere he went, including the Navy. But I’m getting ahead of myself.  He graduated high school and started taking art classes at Phoenix University, which was interrupted by the Vietnam War; he was drafted into the Navy.
In 1971, after three tours and four years in Vietnam, he enrolled in The Arizona School of Art, and he’s never looked back! He was on a mission and could not be discouraged from art and his positive outlook! He worked very hard at learning all mediums and soon became the “go to person” for painting requests through his teacher, Jo Rogozen. Eddie was sent out whenever a request came in for an art commission. He was frequently called on to create murals and portraits in Phoenix and Scottsdale. After graduation, he was interviewed and chosen to paint Governor Raul Castro’s portrait while he was in still in office.  Eddie is still the only artist to have had an art exhibition at the State Capitol. I learned so many things about this man that I can’t appropriately write into a short article. Needless to say, he’s had a unique life!

Eddie had an art studio on Camelback Road that was a magnet for other artists. He taught art classes at several Montessori schools. He also demonstrated painting and would complete an entire portrait while carrying on a conversation with the audience. He’s written a book, “Surviving As An Artist,” and he collects and writes down his own philosophical sayings. He loves to communicate with people, especially about art and life in general. He studies words and their meanings and uses them in a humorous way; he could also be a stand-up comic!

One thing that most people don’t know about Eddie is you can’t contact him in the usual way. You could say that Eddie is unique in that he doesn’t have a phone, doesn’t have a computer, has never cooked, never had a job or career outside of the art world, and drives an unusual van. He lives primarily for art and teaching. He works his life around art — art always come first. He’s taught classes every day somewhere in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, or Phoenix for the last thirty five years. Individuals hear about him through others taking classes, then they see the results and want lessons. Art enthusiasts are waiting in line to take lessons, but they can’t get into the class unless someone leaves. He has a minimum of eight people per three hour class and usually has two classes a day. Eddie has his own style of teaching while demonstrating; no one leaves his class without a good painting or drawing. Ed says he can teach anyone to draw or paint, but he can’t get them to love or have a passion for art.
He operates his classes as a continuous open-ended program. Everyone starts with graphite drawing and then proceeds to pastel, ink, watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting. If you were a fly on the wall listening to his words, you would find that he gives out nuggets of life experiences, always with humor, which is almost as famous as his art work. He has a book of sayings that one day, if persuaded, he may publish, along with his tips on marketing. If you’re a beginner, you’ll learn steadily how do use all the mediums, and if you’re advanced, he’ll make you better! There is something to learn for everyone! Eddie has lived his life the way he wanted and has no regrets.  As an optimist, he never looks back. He stated, “I did art all my life and everything I have came from that. If you’re good to art, it will be good to you.”  And unlike Van Gogh, Eddie still has both ears!
Author’s Note. Eddie teaches at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Rio Verde Community Center, Tonto Verde Club House, Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, and locations in Peoria and Phoenix. Currently, Eddie has about 95 students/week. He is available for classes and commissions. Eddie’s mail: 3317 East Earll, Apt. 5, Phoenix, AZ 85016