ABOUT 1ST PLACE WINNER BRIAN LASAGA:

LaSaga was born in Newfoundland in November 1955 and his journey as an artist began soon afterwards. As a child he was a very visual person and pursued art in later years with no formal training. “Art is more instinctual, full of discovery and experimentation,” says LaSaga.

A perfectionist, LaSaga takes pride in remaining faithful to his subjects and his imagery. Experimenting with watercolors, gouache, egg tempera, and oils, the artist realized that acrylics best suited his style and technique. Today he paints primarily with acrylics on masonite panel, preferring this fast-drying medium which allows him to layer quickly. His work is influenced by nature, and he feels that he is just one of many instruments of nature. Subjects often include indigenous rural settings, weathered textures, raw landscapes, sacred seascapes, and occasionally the incorporation of figures and wildlife.

LaSaga’s studio is located in his hometown of St.George’s, Newfoundland. The island of Newfoundland is Canada’s most easterly destination and offers rugged coastlines, rivers, forests, wildlife, ponds and marshes — the inspiration for LaSaga’s 30 years of work. When not in his studio, he can be found hiking, kayaking or making field trips to gather material for his paintings. Many of his works hang in corporate, public and private collections in Canada, United States and Europe.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“As an artist, I feel that I’m just a work in progress, and there is always something to learn. Exploring and collecting material for paintings is a great adventure for me, and always a thrill to wonder what’s around the bend or beyond that ridge. My goal is not to paint life, but to paint life into my work and create an emotional connection that I hope will inspire my viewers.”

SEE MORE OF LASAGA’S WORK AT HIS SITE: www.brianlasagarealism.com