Clase Azul -
Creating for the Creator or perhaps Art for the Artisan. Sometimes I am blessed to make a piece of art for someone I truly admire. You may have read my article “The Muse” where I created a sculpture for a client who is obsessed with Clase Azul tequila. Well that journey gave me the opportunity to get to know Arturo Lomeli the founder of Clase Azul tequila.
This painting was inspired by his struggle and success.
There is a quote that reads,
"Never let success get to your head, never let failure get to your heart".
I can attest that Arturo encapsulates both of these qualities. He has been beyond kind to me and for that I am truly grateful.
- Johnny Blanco
When Arturo was 23 and living in Guadalajara, he bought a bar. That is where he discovered a love for the spirits that he sold. He eventually teamed up with a friend from school to start a tequila brand called El Teporocho, which failed.
He stopped production, and decided to go back to school and reset. Armed with new skills, he started another tequila brand where the spirit itself was far better in quality and the bottles were intended to be reused after the tequila was done - as a candle holder or vase.
Rebirth1997
Arturo Lomeli founded the company in 1997 in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, with the intention of creating a brand that expressed Mexican culture and was a fine spirit.
It started as a grassroots effort that had Lomeli going from bar to bar around Mexico and the U.S. to pitch his tequilas in a bid to make a sale. In 2022, Clase Azul celebrated its 25th anniversary and to this day commands a presence with its unmistakable hand painted ceramic decanters at top bars, restaurants, and alcohol retailers in more than 50 countries.
“We’ve doubled our production every year since 2014 and are fortunate to be in a position where demand outstrips supply,”
- Arturo Lomeli
The brand has tequilas and mezcals, ranging in price from US$150 to US$2,000. Limited-edition bottles are available for special occasions including the Clase Azul Tequila 25 Aniversario Limited Edition. The 9,125 decanters each represent a day that the company has been in business and are filled with reposado tequila.
Clase Azul is about more than just producing tequila, it is about celebrating the artisans that produce it.
The bottles are a statement of Mexican craftsmanship. Mexican artists were becoming irrelevant with modern technology, but not at Clase Azul. To preserve the art of producing exquisite Mexican goods they create these bottles in an elaborate process where they mix soils to make a base that
they pour into a mold that’s eventually polished, painted, and baked in a high heat oven. The client gets a decorative object that they can keep forever and repurpose, and artisans get to keep working. It’s a benefit to both. Clase Azul employs more than 1,000 artisans in Mexico.
This painting was specifically created to celebrate the people that create this elixir. "Made with the heart and soul of Mexican artisans".
It contains the bright colors and fun energy found on the streets of Guadalajara along with nods to the processes and people that work hard to procure these explosive flavors. Embedded in the piece is genuine 925 Silver flake to pay homage to the silver artisans of Mexico. The painting is finished with four layers of tabletop resin to honor Arturo Lomeli and his humble beginnings in a bar.
“I am proud to say that this painting is now part of Arturo Lomeli’s personal Art Collection”.
- Johnny Blanco
You can help support the Foundation Clase Azul by clicking the link below.
Learn more about Clase Azul
All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names,trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. Thank you for looking, Johnny Blanco
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