About The Artist

Telagio Baptista is a recent transplant to Omaha, Nebraska. Born and raised in California, he has lived in Northern California since 1985. For 20 years before that, Telagio owned and operated a graphic design studio in Hawaii. He toured the South Pacific as a golf pro during this time, teaching private golf lessons as time permitted. Despite the joys and rewards of his various careers throughout the years, his passion for the arts remained. Telagio's interest in the arts began when his parents bought him a toy violin. They enrolled him in private violin lessons when they saw he would not put it down. During his teen years, Telagio gave private concerts up and down the Northern California coast and performed, as well, as a member of a string quartet. By the age of 17, he was a concertmaster of a junior symphony. While developing his love of music, Telagio also continued to develop a passion for the visual arts. His high school paintings won national awards, and he was awarded a scholarship to the San Francisco Art Institute. Telagio finished his education by earning a BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Telagio Baptista is a portrait, figurative, seascape, and cityscape artist using various atmospheric painting techniques. He frequently utilizes negative space to give his images room to "breathe" and express a specific feeling or mood. His paintings have won international art competitions in addition to awards received both regionally and nationally. Telagio works solely with watercolor. He uses a limited palette, valuing simplicity and restful space. In his view, watercolor is magical, an exotic medium that has no boundaries. His images vary from entirely realistic to somewhat more abstract, allowing the viewer to respond with every painting. As an artist and as a person, Telagio is open to new ways of perceiving and understanding. He is continuously learning and embraces the notion that his best work is yet to come. Telagio's watercolor paper of choice is Arches and Fabriano 140-300lb cold press to rough. Winsor Newton Professional Watercolor and Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor are his primary choice of paints. Telagio conducts watercolor workshops in Omaha and surrounding areas for both individuals and groups. Encouragement and support for each student characterize his teaching method. He brings his God-given and professional painting skills along with his enthusiasm to each workshop, encouraging his students to speak "loud and clear" with their hearts and brushes.