José Vicente Aguilar facts for kids

Aguilar's watercolor painting "Ball Player," 1949.

José Vicente Aguilar was born on January 8, 1924. He is also known by his Tewa name, Sua Peen, which means "Warm Mountain." He is a talented Pueblo-American painter.

Aguilar comes from both the San Ildefonso Pueblo and Picurís Pueblo tribes. He is especially famous for his beautiful watercolor paintings. His artwork has been shown all over the United States, especially in the Southwest. You can find his paintings in important museums, like the Gilcrease Museum.

Growing Up

José Vicente Aguilar was born in San Ildefonso, New Mexico. His parents were José Angela Aguilar from the San Ildefonso tribe and Rosalie Simbola from the Picurís tribe. Both of his parents were skilled artists. They were well-known for making special black-on-black pottery. Many of his brothers and sisters also became artists, including his younger brother Alfred Aguilar.

As a child, Aguilar went to several different schools. These included the San Ildefonso Pueblo Day School in New Mexico. He also attended the Montezuma Boys' School in Los Altos, California. From 1935 to 1940, he studied at the Santa Fe Indian School. There, he learned from a famous teacher named Dorothy Dunn. After that, he went to Monson High School in Monson, Massachusetts. He later attended Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California.

His Career and Art

Aguilar served in the United States Army for two years during World War II. He fought in Europe and was awarded the Purple Heart medal for his service.

After the war, he continued his education. He studied at several art schools and universities. These included the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles and the University of New Mexico. He also attended the Hill and Canyon School of Art. His studies continued until 1951.

Working as a Technical Artist

Later, Aguilar worked as a technical artist in the aircraft industry. This meant he created detailed drawings and designs for airplanes. He worked for big companies like Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and Douglas Aircraft Co.. Even while working in the aircraft industry, he kept creating his own fine art. He also continued to take art classes to improve his skills.

How His Art Changed

When José Vicente Aguilar first started painting, his style was like the traditional Pueblo art. This style was often taught at the Santa Fe Indian School. As he grew as an artist, he was inspired by other painters, like Joe Herrera. Aguilar began to use more modern backgrounds in his paintings. His figures also became more free and expressive.