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.”
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