Stan Padilla’s home and studios, located in the valley along the Bear River Watershed in rural Placer County, reflect his Native American heritage and core values.

“The studios are nestled in a peaceful valley with an abundance of wildlife, streams, ancient oaks, and a deep indigenous history,” he says. “I strive for a healthy, peaceful, creative way of life.”

The vivid blue walls of the buildings emerge from the natural landscape. Blue hues also dominate much of Padilla’s art. For him, the color provides a deep sense of contentment.

“As a young child, I had a near-death experience that forever changed my perspective on life and living. Vivid color, creative geometry, harmony, and positivity became a way to express and heal from this traumatic experience,” he explains. “The color blue has been a large part of that transformative healing process. Blue represents the transcendental nature of living. Its harmony, resonance with sacredness, and purity has become a way of life for me.”

Padilla is a member of the Royal Chicano Air Force (an artists’ collective committed to social justice and civil rights), has contributed to Sacramento’s Wide Open Walls mural project, and has authored numerous books of Native American myths and legends.

How did you get your start as an artist?

I was a child prodigy. I began doing art as a first grader, as if I remembered how to do it. I was recognized and encouraged by my teachers, and I’ve continued until this day.

What mediums do you work in?

I consider myself primarily a painter who branches out into other mediums, including drawing, writing, muralism, jewelry making, and all avenues of experiential learning.

How does your Yaqui heritage influence your art?

I’m proud of my native heritage. It’s who I am. The culture is a deep resource of mythology, life ways, customs, and traditions as an inspiration for my art making. I’m very contemporary in my approach to making art, and ancient in my philosophy and expression. I’m a scholar of Native American art, customs, and traditions.

Please describe your artistic process.

I’m inclined toward dreams, visions, and mystical experiences and have been since I was a child. I don’t make a big deal out of it. It’s the source from which my ideas emerge. I then use my experience in different materials, mediums, and expressions to manifest these ideas, which become art with a multimedia perspective. The process of art making and the ceremony of its becoming is as important to me as the finished work.

You’re developing an artists’ sanctuary on your land. Tell us about this.

Throughout history, many artists have left the complexity of modern urban life to find a nature sanctuary in which to focus their artwork. I follow in that tradition. My studios (“peaceful valley”) is set within the context of gardens, seasonal change, open space, and forest.

You’re also an author and educator and invest much of your time teaching youth about social activism and environmental stewardship. 

An integral part of my creative process and art is sharing knowledge and experiences, especially with family, young people, and like-minded people. While embracing technological wizardry, my focus is in the oral, the time-honored, handcrafted wisdom. I believe in higher intelligence, skills, and the wisdom of nature, and I like to share with young people. I’m currently completing a California Arts Council (CAC) Master Artist Legacy Fellowship in which I was recognized for my artwork and its transference to young people. 

You’ve contributed to several murals. Tell us about their significance.

The murals are an extension of my studio work and philosophy with a larger audience. I’m interested in sharing a multicultural perspective with the public and helping to create a cultural space within our environment. My oldest murals were done in the early ’70s and my latest, which is at Golden One Center, was done in 2020-21. I’m currently working on a large, commissioned mural installation for American River College, titled The Journey from Knowledge to Wisdom.

How have your travels influenced you?

Traveling is another way of learning. My travels are primarily for studying art and culture, adventure, and cultural exchange. I don’t consider them vacations, as they’re often strenuous and challenging. In 2024, I was able to visit and work in Egypt, the Tuscany region of Italy, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In time, we see the influences emerge in my artwork and teaching experiences.

What do you hope viewers experience through your art?

A sense of wonder and a sense of reverence for their own lives and environment. As an advocate for human rights and social justice, I hope that [my art] motivates them to participate in bringing forth a more egalitarian society.

Where can your art be viewed locally?

I’ll be having a one-man exhibit at Blue Line Arts in Roseville from May 10-June 21, with other events and exhibits planned for 2025 and 2026. The best is to follow me on Facebook (search “Stan Padilla”) and other social media outlets. Hopefully, readers can visit “peaceful valley” for one of my open studio events during the spring and summer. 

by Jennifer Maragoni
Images courtesy of Stan Padilla