Ernesto Seco Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1958 - d. 2011

In February Ventura County lost a powerful creative force with the death of Eduardo Ernesto “Seco” Alpizar Uribe. Seco came to painting after a successful literary career. The Mexican National Institute published his first book of short stories in 1978. As a journalist he traveled throughout Mexico and it was during this period he began to study drawing and human anatomy. In 1991 Seco had his first solo show at Jardin Borda in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

In 1996 Ernesto settled in Ojai with his wife, Norma, and sons Omar and Emilio. By this time the focus of much of his work began to revolve around music and musicians. In 1998 the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra extended a rare invitation to sketch closed-door rehearsals, leading to Seco’s most prolific period. Paintings from this series capture passion, energy and the intensity of the performing artist at work. We had lunch together a few weeks before he returned to Mexico for the last time. Seco said his experience with cancer was in many ways the most exhilarating time of his life. Food tasted better; art and beauty seemed more vivid. We talked about how cooking, when performed with intention, can be a marriage of the arts. Seco was thrilled that Omar, after growing up around painting and then learning cooking basics in my backyard kitchen, has decided to pursue a culinary arts degree at SBCC. I have no doubt Omar’s dishes will be canvases.