Orlando Pelaez

I studied drawing, painting and graphic design, trained by Colombian masters back in the1960s. I then migrated to NYC in the 1970s where I had the opportunity to attend some classic arts schools, especially the renowned “Art Students League of New York.” I also worked for a department store doing visual merchandising. All of this training combined made me “a Jack of all trades.” Thanks to that, I have been able to survive as an artist all these years by being able to create visual art without limitations in several mediums. That vision I had as a child when I used to draw cartoon characters, my first Prismacolor drawing contest award at the Simon Bolivar park in downtown Medellin, my elementary school teachers pulling me out of my classroom to draw class subject matters for them on their chalk boards, etc. helped me build confidence as an artist at a time when I totally struggled with my academic education, particularly math. It was obvious to my parents and teachers that I belonged in the creative world making great works of art! No question about it.

Moving to Indiana was my destiny after I met and found the love of my life, Alesa Stanley. I met my wife in NYC while she was attending Hanover College and collecting research data at the UN’s bookstore where I was working as a sales person. Indianapolis was a smaller city back then with a different atmosphere: green surroundings, clean, simple life, low cost of living and friendly. Opportunities for artists at the time were rather low however. One of my first opportunities to apply my art talent was given to me by the Hispano American Center on East Street near College and Massachusetts Avenues, where I did a series of large works depicting cultural Latin American images. I got my first full time job working for The William H. Block Co. Dept. Store in downtown Indy where I was able to develop my visual expertise further while being coached by professionals in the field; great carpenters and painters that been there since the 1940s.  I did learn a lot from them!  I am truly blessed to have a great family and a very supportive wife and children and to live in a community that supports the Arts even though its image is based