Fifth-generation islander inspired by island, heritage
This week’s Catalina Art Association artist of the week is the island’s very own Buck Lopez. Pastor “Buck” Lopez III has always had an artistic flair since he could hold a pencil. He loved to draw and paint in school and even won a blue ribbon in the Art Association’s youth art show. Buck said he’s always loved art. He said he grew up watching some of the island’s local artists like Sampson, Dawes, Upton and Warner.
“I loved their work,” Lopez said. “My first Art Festival booth was next to Daniel Peterson. I’ve always loved his work and he gave me so much inspiration and encouragement, it was such an honor to be placed next to him.”
Buck has dabbled in just about all art mediums. He said he’s worked in watercolor, pen and ink, and jokes that he has a bit of a love-hate relationship with acrylics. His profession has been as a stone mason for the past 10 years, which led him to develop a love of soapstone carving.
He said one day he was sitting in front a blank canvas trying to find inspiration for a new paining. As he began to feel frustrated by the lack of inspiration, he noticed a small chunk of soapstone sitting on his desk. He began tossing it up and catching it like a football and after one catch, it hit him. The stone had a sea lion in it.
“It had been there the whole time. I just hadn’t been looking good enough,” Buck said.
He took out a pocketknife, some chisels and sandpaper and within an hour he had carved out a sea lion. He had no picture reference in front of him, but having grown up seeing them, he had a strong picture in his head. While he is always looking to work in different mediums, Buck said carving is probably his current favorite form to work in.
“I guess you can say that carving is my favorite so far, but I’ve got so much more to learn,” Buck said.
Buck was born on the island, in the hospital in Falls Canyon, while waiting for a medivac helicopter. He was born on May 9, 1983, to Pastor and Sandy Lopez. He is a fifth- generation islander and his family has been on the island since 1904. Having called the island home his entire life, he has used much of its natural resources to create different art pieces.
“I use all island materials to create, from Catalina tiles, island soapstone, and even bills from a swordfish I was able to keep from my time as a commercial fisherman,” Lopez said.
Regardless of the medium, much of Buck’s work is inspired by the culture of indigenous people. His father’s family goes back to the Turraskin Indians of the Michoacan, Mexico, area, so he said it’s in his blood.
His father’s influence also created his love of the island. He said as a child they would camp, hike or just play in the hills of the island. His father would take him to the mainland to attend pow wows, which gave him his love of the culture and which still inspires him in his art work.
Buck even enjoys the art of music. He began playing bass guitar at the age of 12 and has been rocking out ever since. He grew up inspired by classic rock and blues, artists such as Malcom Jones and Blues Image, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.
Visitors can find some of Buck’s work in the Catalina Art Association Gallery. Islanders already know how to find Pastor Lopez III.
“I’ve always been the only “Buck” in Avalon so it’s never hard to find me,” he said.
Editor’s note: Buck’s painting on the cover has been sold, but some of his other work is available. He just donated a Catalina tile table to raffle off to raise money for the Catalina Art Association for $10 each. The table will be raffled off at the end of the month. For more information on raffle tickets or viewing art, call 310-510-2788, email catalinaart
association@gmail.com, or go to their Facebook page at Catalina Art.
