Redlands, CA - "Art is a calling, not a choice. Many are called but only a few choose to answer."

If you ever met Edward, you never forgot him. His smile lit up every room he walked into, and his genuine love for life left a mark on everyone lucky enough to know him.

Edward Joseph Sotello Sr. lived life to the fullest, all ninety-seven beautiful years of it. A dedicated teacher, accomplished artist and enduring inspiration, he answered art's calling early and never looked back.

Edward served his country in the Army during World War II, and his tour in Japan deepened a love of beauty and culture that would shape everything that followed. He went on to spend thirty-three years as an art teacher in Yucaipa, California, where Mr. Sotello shaped countless young minds, teaching not just technique, but the joy of self-expression.

In what others might call retirement, his artistic career only grew. He explored ceramics, pastels, sketching, oils and watercolors, the medium for which he became most celebrated. He was perhaps best known for his plein air paintings, a style where the artist paints outdoors on location, capturing natural light and landscapes in the moment. He won more awards than anyone could easily count and was widely known and loved through the Redlands and Riverside Art Association communities that truly became his artistic home.

Edward was the kind of man who listened with an open heart and never made you feel rushed or unimportant. Through his teaching, his painting and simply the way he carried himself every day, he inspired tens of thousands of people to let go of perfection and let their true selves come through.

Edward is survived by his beloved wife Nancy and her family, his six children, sixteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, June 14th, 2026 from 2 to 5pm at

First United Methodist Church, 1 Olive Avenue, Redlands. All who would like to honor and celebrate Edward are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the

Redlands Art Association, the community Edward treasured most.

He would want us all to stop and smell the roses, pick up a brush, and find that creative spark that lives in every one of us.