Isaac
"Ike" Rodriguez
I grew up in
La Porte, Texas, a small community located on Galveston Bay, approximately 25
miles from downtown Houston. I am the second of four children born to Francisco
and Lucy Rodriguez. Since childhood, I have had artistic aspirations. I
started teaching myself how to draw using the text books my father brought home
from a continuing education course he was taking at a local college. From
that point on, I was always drawing.
My first
commissioned work was a color pencil portrait for a former employer, Lin
Pfeiffer. After that first commission, I started Ike’s Art Studio. My artistic
career has since flourished. I have done commissions for family, friends and
NFL players such as Reggie Wayne, Donnie Avery, Nate Washington, DeAndre
Hopkins and Sean Porter. I look forward to what the future brings for Ike’s Art
Studio. My long term goal includes working for a professional athletic team,
but I always want to maintain a personal relationship with all of my patrons.
When it
comes to my artistic style, I like to combine colorful abstract backgrounds
with realistic portraits to bring out the emotions and depth of the subjects.
While my subject matter varies according to my clients’ needs, I most enjoy
painting portraits and people. I like to capture the emotion and energy
that I see in my clients.
My
influences include artistic giants such as Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte,
Johannes Vermeer, Vincent Van Gogh, and Leroy Nieman. Sports
artists, such as my mentor Robert Hurst, have also been tremendously influential
on my work. Robert taught me how to paint and definitely is my “Obi Wan”. In
addition to Hurst, I find inspiration in the work of Vernon Wells and Stephen
Holland.
My most
important personal inspiration has and always will be my mother Lucy. She
taught me how to work hard and put pride in whatever you do, no matter if it’s
sweeping the floor or painting someone’s portrait. The commitment to your
craft and the dedication to your client will appear in the quality of your work
more than anything else. She was an exceptional person and the best role model
and mother anyone could ever have. Everything I do, I do in honor of her.
R.I.P. Lucy Rodriguez 1948-2006.
