He studied sculpture at the School of Fine Arts under the direction of Mario Zamora, a prominent Mexican sculptor. The bold modeling and energetic brushwork in Zepeda's paintings reflect this early influence of sculpture. After a number of years, he was called to serve in the Presidential Guard. When the government ended in a coup d'etat, he joined the Merchant Marine, working in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas from 1962 until 1966. In 1967 Ernesto acquired Permanent Residency status in the United States…