My Origin Story,

Since I was a little boy of 5 years old, I was very curious and very observant of the world around me. Growing up in Mexico in my early years, I really embraced the dirt city of Tijuana. Riding on two buses on the way to school all by myself both ways. By the time I was 7 years old, I felt all grown up.

My mom Alicia AKA Licha was a single mom raising me until she met my stepdad, Francisco AKA Pancho. He always had the idea in his head to move to America, so we did just that. I remember my sister Edith and me riding in the back of the car with the ocean wind hitting our little faces as we passed the San Diego beaches. The roads were paved and without the familiar Tijuana potholes. The homes had yards and they were green. It was in a whole other world than that dirt filled city from where I just left.

We moved in with my stepdad’s family (Aunt Martha) at first and then moved to a small place that was rented out to us, by the Elizarraras family who lived in a bigger 5-bedroom home that faced the small street named “painter”. We were poor but we had more than the basics. My neighbor, David became my best friend, and we did everything together especially sit around and draw. We drew a lot. I got good at it and as art competitions came up at school my classmates and teachers noticed my talent. As I began competing in art competitions I was winning before I was even in 6^th grade. As I went into middle school, I took art classes and my teachers encouraged me further into art with painting and pastels and even small model making crafts. I enjoyed it, kind of really liked it but loved more the challenge of creating something with my hands, enjoying the outcome as much as the process. As the years went on, I was the artist for family and friends continued to take art classes in high school. Upon graduating High School, I was awarded High School Senior Artist of The Year. I was deep into my craft. I was in love with my art and madly in love with my girlfriend Vanessa. After High School I went to community college to continue pursuing an art degree.

As the world turns and things happen, my girlfriend was now pregnant and I decided I wanted her to be mine forever, so I proposed to her and we began to raise a little princess, Janis. At this point I felt like I needed to earn more money than the local auto mechanic job I had where I was making $8 an hour to run errands and do oil changes. My same friend David went to Brooks College and was doing Graphic Design, so I wanted to do that since it was going to be quicker, and I had a family to support. I had to put my art career on hold for a little time. I went into Graphic Design at the age of 21. I later got the graphic design job and made more money and then as the world would have it, we went for child number two! “Jordan the great” was born in 2007! My son being born gave me the chance to look over my life and reevaluate how far my art had gotten away from me, and he inspired me to go after it again. In the process of going after my dream I got a marketing job and made even more money, my daughter got married and moved out.

Now I’m an artist I was always an artist. Recording life with my paint brush in digital form or with my oils and acrylics. You the art collector make it possible for me to be a paid artist working from home with my canvases with my paints in my studio, deep in touch with my spirit and my paintings. I continue the path of my childhood because it fulfills me fully. My art story isn’t over and can’t wait to see what’s next so come along for my adventure as I get representation from galleries and end up in the biggest galleries in the world…

Armando Renteria

Master Artist
Original Abstract Figurative Art