About: Anthony “AO” Oropeza – Kansas City Sports Artist

A Kansas City Original

Born in KCMO and raised in the Kansas City, Kansas, AO grew up where most were blue collar train or factory workers.  Not afraid of hard work AO found a love for art, design and sports.  AO was fascinated by classic Renaissance paintings, architecture design, car design, graphic design as well as comic strip and comic book art and design.

In high school he fell in love with gritty, raw, blue collar art of sports artists Mr. Stephen Holland.  The visually stunning work of Holland changed the way AO saw and felt about sports art. The abstract gritty background art under the energy of the athlete in the foreground placed him right there in the game – Mr. Hollands art made sports art even cooler and inspired AO.

Good Art – Good Design

AO loves good art and good design – in everything. Like sports, AO has learned that good art & design take time, thought, practice, research, desire and a no-quit attitude – something not explained to him about art in his youth.  But he’s figured a few things out, if you want good design or if you want to be something – an artist, athlete, doctor, etc.  – go do it – give it a shot – even if others (or yourself) tells you – “you can’t” or that “you aren’t good enough” – you still need to go after it.

Wanting Something Different

Growing up in a blue collar KCK neighborhood, AO attended a high school outside of his neighborhood where attending college was automatic for the locals there. Although his high school counselor thought a good vo-tech school or a good factory job might be best for him, he thought otherwise. He believed a college education was a better way. He remembers the words of his mom while he was working a summer job in the same factory where she was employed, “You don’t want be be stuck working in one of these “@#&%&!” factories all your life – like me …”.  And she was right.

His mother, a single mom of four, worked on the factory floor for over 25+ years. AO attempted to work nights at the factory and attend community college in the AM. It did not working out, so had to make a decision. So, AO quit the factory full time job and pursued school. He soon earned two Associate degrees from Kansas City Community College (one in art), attended a four year art school, left that art school, returned home to earned his Bachelors in Communication from Rockhurst College (KCMO).  After Rockhurst, he attended Johnson County Community College where he learned graphic design software and earned a Desktop Publishing Certificate – then began his career in graphic design which led to his pursuit into web design. Since 2004, AO have held a fulfilling position as a Web Development Coordinator and later as a Graphic Designer in a KC parks and recreation organization’s Marketing Department.

Art School Not For Everyone

Yes, art school is not for everyone.  Artist can find their way and their own work/style on their own.  AO does not have a four year degree in art.  While at a four year art school, and after passing all his sophomore classes, AO’s portfolio review was rejected and he was not allowed to advance to the junior level. It was a bit of a gut-check. But determined to earn a 4-year degree, (he had earned 2 Associate degrees by then) he had to rethink the plan. So, after leaving art school, he focused on a different subject and pursued, and earned a Communication degree at Rockhurst College in KCMO thus earning his degree in 1996.

While attending school and working, AO still continued drawing, writing, and painting throughout the years. His hope was that one day one of the disciplines would eventually surface and stand out. He had no idea it would happen some fourteen years later in 2013.

The Work Shows Promise

In 2013, AO made a decision. Based on a couple personal factors, he decided to give his sports painting one finals shot. But this time he had to give 100%. Thirteen plus years later – his body of work says it all.

AO brings an energy, love of sports. love of design and the many athletic influences design to his canvas.  His pursuit of top notched quality, design, color contrast, creativity and balance, like an athlete, is one of his top priorities.

Visually seeing one of AO’s sports portraits, the viewer experiences the painter’s passion for his subject, and his ability to show depth, rawness and color contrast.  AO wants the athlete to “jump off” the canvas. His “coming at cha'” poses and graphic design-like compositions have an uncanny sense of poster-ready quality.

There seems to be a discipline and determination, fight and finish, abstract and order, in every one of AO’s paintings.

AO’s gritty, blue collar background and upbringing are reflected in is his unrestricted but controlled painting techniques.  AO uses bold lines, an abstract mix of colors, aggressive, contrasting colors and various shapes and forms to enhance the complimentary background space.

His media include acrylic paint, oil paint, latex paint, stencils, spray paint, canvas, wood and masonite.  AO often confesses – “In art, if the piece needs it – I’ll use it.”

He hopes one day to be mentioned in the same breathe as some of the greats like Holland and Neiman – but knows there is still much work to be done and so much more to learn.  Until then, he will grind away on project after project, at the drawing table, lap top and at the canvas to make his next great piece better then the one before – just a like any athlete at work – focus, technique, repetition and gritty determination.

Success, Not Fame

From his high school art of Kareem Abdul Jabbar to his 1990’s work of greats like DiMaggio, Chipper Jones, Jeter to his 2014 work of Cain, Eric Hosmer, Perez and to his 2018 and beyond KC Chiefs work of Mahomes, Kelce and so on, AO is well on his way to claim a space as a premier Kansas City sports artists.

AO knows a road to something close to greatness will not be easy but like many an artists and athletes alike, he is up for the challenge and ready to put to work the talent and knowledge he has worked on all his life. And like most athletes and artist alike, he may be out to prove to those who said he didn’t have the talent – that he belongs “on the field”.  As AO always says, “I have made a ton of mistakes in my life – and now, as an artist/designer and a dad, my  goal is to be a bit more successful than yesterday. I do NOT to be famous.  Fame doesn’t pay the bills. Success raises a family.”