Javier Zaragoza´s paintings capture the expressions and feelings of Mexico´s native people with exquisite detail.His technique of painting oil on canvas show his mastery of realism with dramatic lighting, rich color and meticulous details of character lines in faces of his potraits.Zaragoza uses real models from the Ajijic area as his subjects for his emotion provoking potrayals.Some of his impressive paintings show old men with lit cigarettes and women carrying glowing candles which appear as if the fire were actually on the canvas. He also paints scenes which portray the essence of traditional Mexican life, such as a group of mariachis,the famous Dance of the Old Men of Patzcuaro, fishermen and charros.Zaragoza was born in Ajijic, jalisco in the beautiful area around Lake Chapala on March 18, 1944. Inspired by the beauty of the lake and it´s surroundings hills, he made his first drawings and paintings when he was seven years old. When he was 13 he began his first artistic studies at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Gto. There have been preserved six impressive murals with religious themes measuring 3x5 meters each in the church of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos, Jalisco,painted by Zaragoza when he was 16 years old. At the age of 18 he went to Los Angeles, Ca. where he continued studying in the L. A. trade Technology College and the pasadena Art Center.His first employment was with Gannet Co specializing in Commercial advertising and later worked for Warner Brothers in the movie industry in Los Angeles. He has exhibited his paintings in Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. Since March 1999 he has had a permanent exhibition in Galeria Zaragoza in Ajijic, Jal. and has had three expositions a year in the Jalisco area. For several years has had individuals shows at Galeria Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta. His works now form part of a permanent collection at Galeria Vallarta.His recent murals are: In Ajijic 2008 {Origenes} 22x22 ft. Chapala Jal.2009 {Rivera del lago} 16x166 ft. Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos Jal.2010{Bicentenario}