artist's Biographies

 

 

 

These cards are individually hand-painted by disabled artists from CEOLI, a Center providing therapy, basic living skills, medical treatment, education and vocational training to approximately 200 disabled children and young adults in Cochabamba, Bolivia. A short biography of the individuals currently involved in card production follows.

 

 

Alfredo Baldelomar Alvorado

 

Alfredo Baldelomar is one of the original group of painters of CEOLI cards.  He was born in 1974 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and is the oldest of 3 brothers.  He is paralyzed due to an accident, and is confined to a wheelchair.  Alfredo has some high school education.  He currently lives in a group home for the disabled.

 

Alfredo has always loved painting and art since he was a child.  In addition to drawing and painting, he loves reading magazines and listening to music.  But painting is his passion.He hopes some day to be a professional painter. In addition to painting CEOLI cards, he has learned to paint ceramics, and is learning to paint on fabrics.

 

 

Paul Francisco Torrez Barrientos

 

Paul Torrez is one of the painters of these beautiful cards.  He was born in 1986 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  He has cerebral palsy and is developmentally disabled.  He lives with his father, stepmother and nephew.  He likes to play soccer with his nephew, and to help his parents around the house.  Paul’s older brother and sister are married and do not live at home.

 

Paul has only an elementary school education.  He loves drawing and painting, and someday wants to be a great painter.  In addition to painting he also loves soccer and plays on the CEOLI soccer team as a goalie.  He would also like everyone to know that he is a good friend to others. 

 

 

 

Limber Castro

 

Limber Castro is one of the original painters of these cards.  He was born in 1981 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  He is the third of seven children, with 3 brothers and 3 sisters.  Due to a diving accident in his early teens, he is quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair.  He paints these cards by holding the brush between his teeth.  Limber has loved drawing and painting since he was a child.  He also loves music.

 

Limber lives in a group home for the disabled.  He graduated from high school several years ago, and is currently a law student at the University Mayor of San Simon in Cochabamba.  His ultimate goal is to become an attorney and to specialize in helping the disabled. He would like others to know that his disability has not kept him from continuing his studies; on the contrary, it has given him even more strength to pursue his dreams.

 

 

Juan Pablo Escobar

 

Juan Escobar is a new card painters.  He was born in 1988 in Cochabamba, Bolivia and has a developmental disability.  He has an eighth grade education.  Juan lives with his mother and 3 older brothers, with whom he loves to listen to music and share their free time.  Juan’s father died in an accident when he was young.

Juan loves to paint, and would like to be a drawer and painter some day.  He also wants his mother to see and be proud of his work.  Juan would like others to know that he is a good son and tries to help his mother at home.  He is also a sociable person and a good friend. 

 

 

 

 

Leidy Patricia Camacho Foronda

 

Leidy Camacho is another of the new recruits painting these beautiful cards.  Leidy was born in 1972 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  She is the oldest of four children, with two younger brothers and a younger sister.  She lives with her family, and loves playing with her young niece.  She loves drawing and painting, music and dancing.  She is developmentally disabled, and has little education.

 

Leidy practices painting at home so that she may paint as many of the card designs as possible.  She wants her family to be proud of her painting and to admire her accomplishments.  She aspires to be able to teach painting to her niece some day.  She would like others to know that she helps her mother sew ponchos for sale, and in this way she is earning money for her family.

 

 

German Quino Quispe

 

German Quispe is a long-time painter of CEOLI cards.  He was born in 1974 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  He has an elementary school education, and is paraplegic.  He has a teenage son and a teenage daughter, and the income from painting CEOLI cards helps support them and provide for their education.  German’s hobbies are drawing, painting and listening to music.

 

German loves to paint these cards and to have people recognize and appreciate his work. He would like to become even better known for his painting some day in the future.  He would like others to know that his disability does not keep him from attaining his goals.

 

 

 

Ruby Vanessa Velasquez Rojas

 

Ruby Velasquez is one of the new painters.  She was born in 1988 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  She has left-sided paralysis due to cerebral palsy, and a severe speech problem.  She lives with her family, which includes two younger sisters, and she loves spending her free time with her family dancing and watching TV.  Ruby has a limited elementary school education.

 

Ruby loves both painting and dancing.  She wants her family and others to appreciate her painting, and she wants her family to be proud of her accomplishments.  Ruby would like others to know that she is sociable and a good friend to everyone.  She always tries to find a way to communicate through body language, gestures and signs so that others can learn to understand her.

 

 

Jorge Sandro Peredo Vargas

 

Jorge Sandro Peredo has been painting these beautiful cards for several years.  He was born in 1975 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and is the 10^th of 11 children.  He received a university education, and was an agronomist prior to a car accident which left him partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.  Jorge is married and has a young son and daughter.

 

Jorge loves to paint, and says it lifts his spirits.  He also loves caring for plants and animals.  He would like to be able to return to the profession of agronomy some day.  He would like others to know that there are many obstacles and setbacks in life, but that we can overcome them with hope and faith and the blessings of God.