Muralist Eloy Torrez visited Rio Hondo students on Nov. 12 as a guest speaker in room B12 to talk about his career as a painter and muralist in Southern California.

Torrez talked to the students about the different directions life can take a person, such as the time he found himself painting his first mural, “Legends of Hollywood” (in reference to the golden era of Hollywood).

He spoke extensively about his mural of Anthony Quinn for Victor Clothing Company, “The Pope of Broadway”, on display at 242 South Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles.

It took him eight months in 1985 to complete the project. Restoration of the great mural will begin in early 2015.

Commented on the inspiration behind his work, he mentioned an old mission church from his childhood in Albuquerque and a belief in that a mural should be a reflection of the general populace.

Los Angeles, with its great diversity, lent itself to his vision.

Many of his paintings consist of trying to capture a single moment in time. That being the case in his piece, “Juliana”; a moment of revelation captured on canvas.

The painting of a nude man and woman waiting on the other shows the influence of the late British painter Lucien Freud in his work.

Torrez also painted the mural at Hollywood High School, “Portrait of Hollywood”, featuring some of their famous alumni.

His smaller pieces usually feature people he knows from all walks of life.

Torrez currently works at his studio on 5th and Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

When talking about his passion for art, he told students, “If you love something, you figure it out, you will it”.