By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — Mario Fuentes, a Willcox-raised artist now based in Safford, is making waves in Johnny Depp Presents The People’s Artist, advancing to the final five in his group with just days left in public voting.
The contest is a nationwide competition powered by Colossal that supports The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit organization that brings arts programs to children facing serious medical conditions. Supporters can cast one free daily. Vote here or purchase additional votes through donations that directly benefit the charity. After the top 5 cutoff, voting will resume until the next cut to the final victor.
Former Clifton-based photographer Michael Diegel, owner of Mike Diegel Photography, is also in the contest and has advanced to the top 10 in his group, where he is currently 8th as of Friday, at 3:40 p.m. Using different art medium, Diegel and Fuentes are in separate groups. Click here to vote for Michael Diegel.
Fuentes, who works nights as a haul truck driver for Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., has been creating art since he was 5 years old. His medium is strictly traditional: freehand drawings on thick watercolor paper using markers, with no computer assistance. His pieces are large — often around 13 by 19 inches — and each takes six to eight hours from start to finish. He frequently shares time-lapse videos of the process on social media.
“My favorite type of art to create [is] high contrast custom portraits with added elements of nature,” Fuentes said. “I always aim to create something new and meaningful to every piece I engage my time into.”
Inspiration, he says, comes directly from life in the region he loves. “There’s so much beauty out there, from nature, wildlife, people, etc.”
Born in Texas, Fuentes graduated from high school in Willcox. He spent time in Phoenix before moving to Safford after COVID-19 to help his mother. What started as a short stay turned permanent.
“I’ve been here since… I just love the area,” he said. “The mountains are beautiful. Part of the most beautiful mountains I’ve seen my entire life anywhere… It brought me back to my roots,” referencing time spent on his grandparents’ ranch.
Fuentes creates custom portraits, often for clients requesting images of deceased loved ones — deeply personal works he chooses not to share publicly out of respect. His public portfolio includes striking originals ranging from celebrities like Marilyn Monroe to more eclectic subjects. Last year, he donated nine pieces to a charity auction.
Though art remains a passion rather than a full-time career, Fuentes is realistic about the challenges.
“I wish it was something I could do for a living, obviously. There is a reason why they talk about the starving artists,” he told the Gila Herald.
He emphasized the thousands of practice sheets that end up discarded and the constant drive to improve. A self-described meticulous Virgo, he remains his own harshest critic.
“I’ll look at something [and think], ‘Oh, I could have done that a lot better.’”
Fuentes entered the national competition casually, simply to see what would happen. He advanced through rounds of 100 entrants per group, down to the top 20, top 15, top 10, and now he is leading as it comes down to the final vote for the top five. Vote here for Mario Fuentes.
“I was just very excited just to be in it,” he said, noting the competitive selection process. He currently leads his group, with voting for the top five closing Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m.
If he were to win a hypothetical $25,000 prize, Fuentes knows exactly what he would do.
“Open my art studio to present my art and other local artists in my area,” he wrote on his entry. “That would be such a huge blessing for me.”
Beyond personal success, Fuentes hopes for a broader appreciation of traditional art. He highlighted the contrast between meaningful, skill-based work and fleeting viral content, calling for greater support for artists who create pieces that “touch people in a good way.” You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The Gila Valley’s landscapes and community clearly fuel Fuentes’ work. As he continues balancing night shifts with his lifelong passion, local supporters have an opportunity to rally behind one of the area’s own in the final stretch of the competition.
Click here to vote for Mario Fuentes.
For more on Mario Fuentes’ art, including time-lapse videos, follow his pages on Instagram and TikTok.
