Local artist paints religious mural

Staff Writer

[email protected]

Local artist Adrian Lopez made a splash this week with the completion of a religious mural that can be seen from Clovis’ busiest highway.

The colorful mural set on the outside wall of a local business depicts St. Joseph teaching Jesus how to be a carpenter while Mary looks on, as well as Mary standing above a serpent.

Frederick Lopez, owner of Custom Wood Products, said he wanted the art to be an inspiration to the local community.

“I like to evangelize in any way that I can,” Frederick Lopez said. “And nobody said it better than St. Francis himself — he said ‘to evangelize and use words when necessary.’ And then he went on to say ‘live a life that inspires others to do good.’ It’s that simple.”

“It’s for the community,” Frederick Lopez continued. “Especially the kids in the neighborhood.”

link Courtesy Photo

Adrian Lopez completed a large mural Wednesday at Frederick Lopez’s custom wood products business on Second Street. Lopez said eventually the entire wall will be covered with religious art to inspire the neighborhood.

Artist Adrian Lopez used cans of graffiti paint and airbrushing techniques to complete the detailed artwork, and said he has already seen local children express interest in it and take photographs of it.

“I was really blown away by it,” said Rick Lopez, Frederick Lopez’s son. “I saw him when we were leaving to go do a job and he had just started doing the outline, and we came back and it was all there. It’s awesome.”

Adrian Lopez said although he has painted murals before in Clovis and Portales, this is the first time he has painted a religious mural.

“I really have a different style,” Adrian Lopez said. “It’s different — it was kind of hard to do, but I like it.”

Adrian Lopez said one of the things that inspired him for the project is the religious artwork that covers Frederick Lopez’s home.

Frederick Lopez said he got the idea for the mural while he was reading a Life magazine religious series on Jesus.

“The magazines have beautiful pictures that are quite inspirational and he also used some of his own imagination,” Frederick Lopez said.

The mural is large enough to be seen north of Mabry, but it’s about to get a lot bigger.

Frederick Lopez said his plan is to have Adrian Lopez cover the entire east wall with religious art.

“The next one is going to be the sacred heart of Jesus,” Frederick Lopez said. “With his left hand he’s touching his heart and in his right hand he’s holding up three fingers. I tell everybody that’s the baddest gang sign in the world because it represents the Holy Trinity — the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. So it’s powerful.”