Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Orozco.
Hi Joshua, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the Philippines, where I loved drawing as a child. In third grade, an illustrated storybook about Robin Hood inspired me to create my own artwork. I also spent hours copying landscapes with oil pastels. Art was something I cared about deeply, but as I got older, life took me in other directions.
I moved to the United States in 2010 and joined the Navy in 2012. While stationed in Japan, I started sketching again, often sitting in a coffee shop with my sketchbook. I kept returning to art when I could, though it took years before I gave myself the time to pursue it seriously.
In 2025, I took an oil painting class at Art on 30th in San Diego. That opened the door to more classes, a mentorship program, and a community of artists who encouraged me to keep going. Today, I’m a Navy Chief and an oil painter. Balancing both takes work, but painting has become an essential part of my life.
My paintings explore memory, identity, belonging, and the quiet moments that stay with us. This year, I’ve had the chance to exhibit at Art Scene West, Ashton Gallery, SH!FT Gallery, The Studio Door, and the Oceanside Museum of Art, as well as in a San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild exhibition. Next, I’m looking forward to “Likhang Sining” exhibition at The Studio Door in November and the Art on 30th mentorship exhibition in December. I’m still growing as an artist, and I’m excited to see where this path leads.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. For a long time, I thought I had to choose between the responsibilities of my Navy career and making art. When I did find time to draw or paint, it was easy to wonder whether I had started too late to take it seriously.
Finding consistent time is still a challenge. My work schedule can change, and a painting often takes many more hours than I expect. I’ve also faced rejection from exhibitions I hoped to be part of. That can be discouraging when the work feels personal.
What’s changed is that I no longer see those setbacks as a reason to stop. Taking classes and meeting other artists helped me build confidence, and each painting teaches me something. I’m learning to make room for art in the life I have now, even when progress is slower than I’d like.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an oil painter working primarily with figures and landscapes. I’m drawn to moments that might be easy to overlook: someone pausing at the water’s edge, a familiar place seen in a different light, or a quiet moment between people. I use atmosphere, soft edges, and light to give those moments space to breathe. My paintings often explore memory, identity, belonging, and the relationships that shape us.
I’m especially proud of my painting “Night’s Passage”, which is currently on view at the Oceanside Museum of Art. It grew from a memory of walking with my mother and sister after sunset, so seeing it in a museum feels deeply personal. Receiving a Best in Show award for “Light Is the Head That Wears a Paper Crown” at The Studio Door’s PROUD+ exhibition was another meaningful moment. It encouraged me to keep making work that feels honest to me.
I think my perspective comes from the different parts of my life: growing up in the Philippines, moving to the United States, and serving in the Navy while building an art practice. Those experiences shape what I notice and what I choose to paint. I hope people feel invited to slow down with my work and find something of their own in it.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about San Diego is how much beauty and community you can find in one place. I can spend time by the ocean, walk through a neighborhood full of art, and meet people who are genuinely excited to support local artists. The light and landscape here have inspired several of my paintings, but it’s the people I’ve met through the art community who have made the city feel like home.
What I like least is how expensive it has become to live and make art here. Studio space, supplies, and everyday costs add up quickly. I worry about how hard it can be for artists and other creative people to keep a foothold in the city. I’d love to see San Diego continue making space for the people who give it so much of its character.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blueprintakoartwork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueprintakoartwork/
