Original Paintings and Limited Edition Prints
Biography
Miguel Freitas was born in Lisbon, Portugal and moved to Toronto, Canada in his early teens where he currently resides.
He entered into the creative world as a photographer while earning his graphic arts degree, then becoming an illustrator which eventually lead him to positions as an art director for companies in both Canada and Europe.
Longing for creative freedom, in 2004, he ventured on his own and has been painting full-time ever since.
In his own unique style, Freitas lays down bold colours along with intentional thick brushstrokes that create a multi-layered surface that appears sculpted creating a unique 3D effect.
Freitas has exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions and is represented by prominent galleries throughout North America.
My Style
My style…what is it exactly? Surrealism, Expressionism, Impressionism? For fun, I call it “Miguelism.” a fusion of modern Impressionism. Coming from an advertising background I knew the importance of standing out so my goal was to create a unique way to capture somewhat familiar scenes but with a slight whimsical and surreal twist.
Imagination
I paint mainly from my imagination and my goal is to alter reality just enough to create my own unique scenes. The paintings have a certain intentional distortion and exaggerated movement, and are composed with forced perspective angles to make a path that leads the viewer's eye into the scene. I want my audience to feel as if they could step into my paintings, visually and emotionally.
Texture
The layered heavy impasto brushstrokes combined with thick acrylics creates depth and a unique 3D effect.
Details
Subtle or main focus, the small details often help tell the story. They are the most important elements of each individual piece.