Maestro Che is a Signature Member of the Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS), Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists (PSG), and also a member of the American Watercolor Society. He also co-chaired the NWWS Waterworks 2013 and NWWS 74th International Open Exhibition 2014. Che was nominated to become the NWWS Vice President for 2016–17 and President for the 2017–18 year.

Che is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts and has worked as a traditional cel animator, web designer, and commission artist since graduating high school. Che has taught at quite a few different schools over the years, including the Kirkland Arts Center, Pratt School of Fine Arts, and Cloud 9, to list a few.

He is a USA Boxing Coach and was owner of Team Eastside MMA in Redmond, WA, and has trained both pro and amateur Boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA fighters from the Northwest since 2004. He still trains, mostly for himself, but is always ready to help anyone that is looking for some pointers in the combat sports.

In 2020, he accepted the position of Visual Art Teacher at Atlas High School in West Seattle, where he currently teaches Art + Animation. He is dedicating the second part of his career to teach the next generation the love of art in the high school setting. He has also finished up his Master’s in Secondary Education and is happy and proud of all the work he has put in to get to this point in his career.

“At a young age, my passion has always been the arts. Drawing and painting have always been my escape. My passion for color and the pursuit of the mastery of the brush is always at the forefront of my mind. As a teaching artist for over 25+ years and counting, what I bring is the experience of an animator, graphic designer, illustrator, and US Boxing Coach. This might sound like an interesting mix of life experiences, and you would be right. I have always felt that I don’t fit in anyone’s idea of me. I am a proud Chicano artist; I let my work speak for itself. I have definitely experienced life to the fullest in all of my endeavors. I love what I do; my creativity keeps me in the game.”