About Me

I’m Elvin Armando, born and raised in Escondido, California, where I still live and work.

I’ve always had a hard time defining myself by one role. I’m myself first. Everything else, artist, painter, curator, whatever comes after is secondary.

My work changes constantly because my interests do too. I’ve been influenced by pin-up art, surrealism, realism, illustration, cats, and really anything that catches my attention. I don’t like limiting myself to one theme or subject. Life is dynamic, people are dynamic, and I think art should be allowed to be the same.

My earlier work leaned more heavily into surrealism, while my more recent work has moved toward realism and illustration. I still leave room for surreal elements when they make sense, but I try not to force the work into any one direction.

More than anything, I’m interested in having the freedom to paint whatever I want. I don’t like feeling tied to one subject, style, or idea.

I started curating exhibitions in 2025, and it quickly became another part of art that I really enjoy. I like seeing other artists’ work on the walls and spending time with pieces I might not otherwise get the chance to see up close.

My own art education has been pretty informal. I worked with a mentor for several years and learned a lot through critiques, but much of what I know has also come from practice, experimenting, and teaching myself along the way.

At the end of the day, I just want to keep making work, putting shows together, and staying involved with art in whatever form that takes.