PEOPLE

Some are real, others imaginary. Some of these paintings are OLD, others more recent.
Ill add details later as to year, size, titles, explanations.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE PAINTING OF ALL TIME.
I KEEP IT UNDER GLASS, in a place of honor in
my living room.

IF MY HOUSE CATCHES FIRE, THIS IS THE ONLY
ONE ILL RUN BACK TO  SAVE.
Painted in 1975, oil on a cheap cardboard, with
glued cotton canvas, the type used by students.
But the weave was like linen, very tight, and
modulated. 30" X 24"

There is a story behind this painting that is of
interest, but its appeal is even greater as it is
SYMBOLIC of social justice and truth.

In Spanish, the title is "LA NINA"..."The Child (girl)"

BUT I have a better TITLE:  "LA AMERICANA".
This name, "THE AMERICAN", accurately tells
everyone she is a descendant of the people of the
 AMERICAN CONTINENT, people who lived here
for 15,000 years before Europeans arrived in
1492.
A small oil painting from about 1980. On wood. Its my daughter SANDRA at age 5.
Sandra is now 32, has a masters degree, lives in NYC, married to Charlie, and they have a child, my dearest
VALENTINA.
Sandra is a singer-composer, and her rocking band PISTOLERA has traveled, Europe, Mexico, and the USA.
See her videos on www.youtube.com  See and hear her music on the band's website: www.pistolera.net

When I can, I'm a ROADIE with the band, and each member is a gifted professional musician.
IncaB is Bass... Maria Elena is Accordion.. Ani Cordero is Drums .. Sandra Guitarist lead singer. They ALL sing!!!!
SUSANNA ( detail of 30X24" )
When I find the full painting jpeg, i'll post it.

THIS IS THE FIRST EVER completed oil
painting in history in which my " CALCITE
SUN OIL" / EMULSIONS method was used.
THE PEACE MAIDEN
(more later)
THE IMMIGRANT

A small oil on wood.
My father was raised as Fortunato Velasquez, but
his birth name was Jose Fortunato Diaz-Cordero.
(1918-1978)

He emigrated to the USA in 1921, and was raised
by his step-father Enrique, and mother, Joaquina.

My father remains to this day my greatest
influence. My brothers and I had to help work from
age 12 onwards, as we harvested the fruits and
vegetables in Central California's great San
Joaquin Valley. This is not a picture of my dad,
just a picture representative of the many Mexican
immigrant workers who worked alongside us and
for my dad. My father was fully bilingual in English
and Spanish, and ran a crew of workers in the
various harvests of oranges, peaches, pears and
others.

My grandmother owned a 30 acre Olive ranch just
north of the city of Porterville, where I was born
and raised.
MY GOD CHILD ANDREA.

A beautiful child, spiritual, kind,
intelligent, thoughtful. Everybody
loves her as I do too.

A small painting. A mixture of
modernist geometric and free
flowing naturalistic forms.
PEACE

a very small painting
oil on paper
MY FAVORITE
paintings are of my
family.
In the 50's and 60's
I painted my
uncles, brothers,
and friends.

My wife and I have
two beautiful
daughters, Sandra
born in 1976, and
Elena born in 1980.

This is the wall in
my home with
portraits of my kids
from about 1983 to
1985.

Below, are close
ups of some of
these paintings.
PAINTINGS are like Diamonds.
They last forever.

When I see the 500 year old paintings
in Museums, it causes me to reflect
that long after I am gone, perhaps my
paintings will be valued and continue
to matter to my children and their
children's children. Its a great thought.

These paintings of my daughters are
among my favorites.