"My uncle was called Alfonso Linares a Venezuelan-born painter, illustrator and sculptor. Also, He became known for his mural paintings across downtown Caracas during the 1950s and 1960s, and for a firefighter sculpture displayed in the 1970s by the Plaza Las Americas mall in El Cafetal, Caracas. He had became synonymous with a wide spectrum of artistic endeavor which was both uniquely Latin American and worthy of comparison with the best international art. He made part of the list of the Venezuelan Artists as Seka Severin, Arturo Michelena, Alejandro Otero, Patricia Van Dalen, and so on. Alfonso Linares won my heart... Even though he was my uncle, he was like a father to me as well as my oldest brother Alfonso Avila who also was very important in my childhood. And my uncle sowed the seed of art in me. As a matter of fact, he used to take me to the movies. For instance, one time we saw Fantasia. And he explained every part of the production with the meaning of it. It was fascinating how everything made sense as I watched it. "He encouraged me to try art, practice it often, and today I keep reaping the rewards"