Canadian artist Brian LaSaga has always been a visual person. And with no formal training, art is inherently instinctual for him, full of discovery and experimentation. While he’s dabbled in watercolor, gouache, egg tempera and oil, today, the artist has landed on acrylics, which he feels best suits his style and technique. Preferring to paint familiar experiences and subjects indigenous to his hometown of St. George’s, Newfoundland, LaSaga’s subjects often include rural settings, weathered textures, landscapes and seascapes. At times, he may incorporate figures or wildlife into his work as an extension of nature.
Washed Up, acrylic, 24 x 36"“Nature is my muse and inspiration simply because of her endless subject matter and surprises,” says the artist. “Although I prefer to paint nature themes, weathered objects and rural settings, I’m open to other things that may catch my eye. 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.” LaSaga says that he enjoys creating “a sense of place that is somewhere but nowhere in particular…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.”
November Canopy, acrylic, 16 x 24"His acrylic Castawaysfeatures a mangled pile of driftwood on a beach of rock and sand. “Driftwood is my favorite subject to paint, and these driftwood forms are on the back part of this island. I enjoy sculpting and painting them as I create the textures, colors and highlights. I use heavy body acrylics with only water to thin some of the paint. I never use any mediums,” he says.
Timeless Rhythm, acrylic, 16 x 24"
Cruising the Drifts, acrylic, 18 x 14"
In Timeless Rhythm, ocean waves crash upon the rugged coastline of Cape St. George beyond the Port Au Port Peninsula. “There is no shortage of coastlines here in Newfoundland. It has many cliffs and rough seas, which can be a paradise for any artist,” he says. “Although I like to kayak, I wouldn’t want to be caught in these waters."
Castaways, acrylic, 16 x 24"
Beach Dragon II, acrylic, 20 x 30"LaSaga works out of his studio in St. George’s. The island of Newfoundland is Canada’s most easterly destination and offers the artist a sanctuary for his work. It has many rugged coastlines, rivers, forests, wildlife, ponds and marshes. When not in the studio, LaSaga 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 throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. —
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