Edgar Sotelo

Western artist Edgar J. Sotelo of Sulphur Springs is a largely self-taught artist who paints vibrant, accurate depictions of ranch scenes, charreadas (Mexican rodeos), western landscapes and portraits. He improves his techniques with annual workshops conducted by the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America members Bruce Greene, Martin Grelle, and Jim Norton. Another former Cowboy Artist, Roy Anderson, helped him with color.

Edgar is a third generation artist who was born in Durango, Mexico. His 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 15 years. They have La Joya Quarter Horses where they raise a handful of prospects each year.

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, Texas and with the cowboys out on the Tongue River ranch in Dumont, Texas. 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 uphold; that he diligently creates only true to life scenes in his paintings.

Edgar believes in experiencing what he paints. He does this by visiting Texas ranches that allow him to ride along and observe, record, and therefore preserve, the cowboy 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.