Eddie Filer Jr.: Art is Life

Meet BOI (Born on the Island) Eddie Filer Jr., who has been a professional artist for over 30 years. While classical portraiture is his artistic forte, he also is a photographer sculptor. He is partial to oil paint over other media because of its slow drying time (which allows for adjustments to be made on wet-on-wet painting). Eddie has taught art in Galveston public schools and gives painting workshops that focus on drawing fundamentals. Eddie lives in Texas City with his wife of 29 years and their two children. He took time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts with Humans of Galveston.

Humans of Galveston: Tell us a little about yourself, Eddie.

Eddie: I was born and raised in Galveston, which for me is a place where I feel joy. I think about my friends, like Reggie “Bruh Man” Ballard and Jerome Stinson, and all the fun that we had growing up, walking the island, riding the bus, going to Galvez Mall. And we also can’t leave out the Martini Theater downtown. Everybody knew that the Martini was our big meeting spot on Friday and Saturday nights. Galveston was a big, huge community where everybody was related to one another, actually quite a bit growing up, and I miss that now.

Humans of Galveston: Has art always been in your DNA? When did you first get bitten by the art bug?

Eddie: I started doing art when I was 4 or 5 years old. I would draw muscle men. I drew Bruce Lee a whole lot. That was my introduction to art. I’ve always drawn faces.

Humans of Galveston: Who were some of your influences in the art world growing up?

Eddie: Being an African-American artist from Galveston, the influences were very limited. There was an instructor in junior high that helped me. But one of the real influences on me was Mr. L.T. Gordon. He took this football player that would talk a lot in class, and he put me in the cafeteria to draw. That’s when I really realized that maybe I do have something that’s a little bit special. And from that time on I started getting serious. My first commissioned portrait was as a junior at Ball High. People noticed my talent and my classmates started hiring me to do their portraits.

Humans of Galveston: How would you describe your style of art?

Eddie: I am a representational artist because I like to paint figures and faces, but my style encompasses several different styles. I believe that through hard work and years of training, that I don’t really have a style. It (art piece) paints itself rather than a style. I do what is necessary to make the painting successful. That goes into several different techniques, whether it’s glazing or using different tools – whatever is needed to create the painting. I like oil because it’s slow drying, and you can get more of a realistic painting using oil.

Humans of Galveston: Is art therapeutic for you? Has it helped you through some tough times?

Eddie: Art, for me, is a friend. Yes it has helped me through some very tough times. Losing my mom and living from house to house, just trying to make a life for myself. It has definitely been a friend.

Humans of Galveston: I notice that you have some beautiful contemporary portraits of people displayed in your studio who are still here today. But you also paint posthumous portraits of people that have passed on. How difficult is it to paint without the actual model?

Eddie: Whenever I get a chance to paint a portrait of someone who has passed, they can be difficult to do. But there’s always a reward in doing them because you are making a loved one happy. Anytime you can take something from nothing and then get a likeness, and then personality, it’s a huge thing.

Humans of Galveston: What are some of the major projects that you’ve been involved in?

Eddie: In 2021, I got one of my biggest projects. I was commissioned to do a portrait of former Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown for the Houston Museum of African American Culture. I also did a portrait of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price for a government building in South Oak Cliff. And one of my projects that I really enjoyed doing was a portrait of Eric Benjamin, retired professor at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. From there, I was asked to a portrait of Dr. Reuben E. Brigety II, retired vice chancellor and president of the university, which is in Sewanee, Tennessee. It’ll be a wonderful portrait because I’m the first black artist to paint the first black vice chancellor of that university in its 163-year history. I was so honored and I’m still on a high from it.

Humans of Galveston: What advice do you have for people who always wanted to paint but they just don’t think they have what it takes?

Eddie: Because I teach art, I think they should contact their local community college or find some type of art program of higher learning. I’d seek help in that fashion because there’s a lot of people that want to do it, but I think that gaining the fundamentals helps. If you don’t want to go that route, visit museums or the library and search for artists that have the style of art that you would like to do. Even pick up the phone and call an artist that you admire because you would be surprised that they’re open to help.

Humans of Galveston: Could you imagine a world without art?

Eddie: No. I can’t imagine a world without art because art is therapeutic, especially for me because I’ve gone through quite a bit growing up with the loss of my mom and living from house to house. Art was always there for me. It’s still my therapy to this day, just getting in the studio or going outside to draw.

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Published by Bobby Stanton