Biography

Originally hailing from Mexico City, Edward K. Hudson is not your typical “Latin Artist.” “I have been told that it is best to paint what one knows,” said Hudson, “and what I know and love most of all is our past.”

Robbed of the opportunity to know his New York-born father due to his premature passing from a heart ailment, Hudson came to the United States as an infant with his Mexico-born mother. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking home, he turned to expressing himself through artwork at an early age. “I had difficulty with the English language until I was in the second grade,” he said. “I became an American citizen at the age of 7, and I remember an incident where a neighbor boy punched me because I had difficulty pronouncing a word in English. As if to make a point, Edward soon mastered the English language and remained in advanced and honors English classes throughout the rest of his schooling and into college.

“As far back as I can remember, I drew images of the past,” said Hudson. “I would gather library books and sketch 19th century bicycles and buggies, or images of knights and warriors of even older eras.” Hudson prides himself in the accuracy of his period pieces. “I gather data, I research my topic and the scene I intend to create, and I collect items for each painting. Every piece contains the date of the scene within its title. I paint the American Dream – bygone eras that made this country what it is today. I don’t stop there, either: I restore and use the items I collect. I light my home with late 19th century round wick kerosene lamps; I have restored a dozen “hand-crank” phonograph and cylinder players; I collect albumen stereo images and view them with an 1880’s stereoscope viewer; I even drive a 1949 Ford Custom four door “shoebox” sedan.”

Schooled in art mainly during his five year full-time study under what he calls “fantastic instructors” at Ventura College – where Bernard Dietz was a powerful and influential force for him - Edward went on to pursue independent study under two of his most inspiring instructors, Carlisle Cooper and Richard Phelps. After earning associates degrees in art and photography, he had to put further formal education on hold in order to work and bring in much needed income to his family. Working first as a commercial artist for publications and military technical manuals, he later owned and operated a photography studio and then transitioned to computer art. Self-taught on computers and 3D animation software, he proceeded to pursue a 15 year career in the computer game industry, starting as artist/animator and working his way up to Lead Artist and then Art Director and Producer positions while working on over 35 commercial titles. While employed in the game industry, he was able to take advantage of additional art instruction by several Disney artists who were hired to help hone the skills of the animation team.

In 2000, he picked up his education where he left off, earning a bachelor’s degree and two masters degrees which he completed Suma Cum Laude, and jumping headfirst into his PhD. “There was never any doubt that I would return to school,” he said. “My grandfather was a medical doctor who was kidnapped by Pancho Villa to treat his men in a mountain hide-away. Eventually, my grandfather was shot in the back, but he “played dead,” wandered through the desert for 3 days before stumbling back into town, and once he recovered, went on to earn a masters and second PhD in Accounting. He has been a tremendous inspiration and driving force in my life, and I knew I had to push myself to the same levels that he did.”

In 2005, Hudson left his professional career as Art Director in order to pursue his painting fulltime. In addition to completing his education and pursuing oil painting, Hudson has recently opened Art First! Center for the Arts, the first art school in Ventura, California, as well as Allegory, the fine arts gallery attached to the school.

As for his art, Hudson added, “I don’t see why all Latin artists must be stereotyped and grouped in a particular category. One of my greatest artistic influences has been another great Latin painter, the Spanish artist Joaquin Sorolla. I want to push the envelope – as I did with my schooling – and stretch the “modern definition” of “Latin artist.” As for his unique style and subject matter, he said, “Many artists talk about light or shadow as the greatest force in their work. Others try hard to be “new” or “different” or shocking or abstract. I have heard the terms “representational” and “illustrative” used almost as though they are dirty words. I say that some of the most fabulous and influential artwork in history has, in fact, been representational and illustrative. I want to use these ideas to touch the very soul of my subjects and by doing so, in turn, to touch the very soul of the viewer. We all “know” who these people are in my paintings – they are your father and my father, your relative, your ancestor – and mine. I want to capture a tiny moment, a flash, an instant in time which was, which is gone – and through the wonder of artwork and imagination, is again.”