João de Brito
Encyclopedia
João de Brito is a Portuguese-American artist who lives in Northern California since 1978, yet he travels extensively throughout California, the U.S. and Europe to paint in oils en plein air
and from memory. From age 6, he has observed and studied art to acquire a passion for expressing himself using impressionist/figurative views on canvas.
Though de Brito sculpts and works in ceramic, he favors painting and incorporates his Portuguese roots along with influences of great French fauvists and California impressionists. In previous years, de Brito traveled to New Zealand
to paint with Māori artists.
De Brito has become well-known for his use of vibrant colors that elicit light, life, energy and interpretive landscapes. Having unleashed a fresh creativity – inspired by memories of his homeland, scenes from his many travels abroad – de Brito’s oils stimulate the sense of sight to produce emotion and thought. As a result, de Brito’s works appear in galleries, museums, businesses, government agencies and affluent homes around the world.
Joao was born in Vila Franca do Campo
, São Miguel Island
in the Azores
, Portugal
and as a young boy immigrated with his family to the East Coast of the United States. In 1978, the artist settled on California’s Monterey Peninsula
where he shares his talents with the local community as well as international art enthusiasts. Though he admits to often ‘swimming against the current, his painting philosophy is to awaken hope, invoke a sense of well-being and share colors of life, de Brito is content to quietly observe nature and to allow his images to speak to the human heart.
Along the way, he has had many solo exhibits, he's also been member of several art's organizations, the Santa Cruz Art League, Art Association and Museum and The Beachcombers Club.
of late, de Brito’s works have been found at Kate Nolan Santa Cruz, California
, Thanassi Gallery in Provincetown Cape Cod, Massachusetts
, the Hauk Fine Art Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA and the The Gone Tomorrow Gallery, in Santa Cruz, California.
He was also part of group exhibit in 2008 with friends Nathan Oliveira
, Mel Ramos and John Mattos, The book "Ashes to Life- A Portuguese American Story in Art" was published for the exhibit, with interviews with all four artist.
Santa Cruz Art League,
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
En plein air
En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and Impressionism...
and from memory. From age 6, he has observed and studied art to acquire a passion for expressing himself using impressionist/figurative views on canvas.
Though de Brito sculpts and works in ceramic, he favors painting and incorporates his Portuguese roots along with influences of great French fauvists and California impressionists. In previous years, de Brito traveled to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to paint with Māori artists.
De Brito has become well-known for his use of vibrant colors that elicit light, life, energy and interpretive landscapes. Having unleashed a fresh creativity – inspired by memories of his homeland, scenes from his many travels abroad – de Brito’s oils stimulate the sense of sight to produce emotion and thought. As a result, de Brito’s works appear in galleries, museums, businesses, government agencies and affluent homes around the world.
Joao was born in Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo
Vila Franca do Campo is a town and a municipality in the southern part of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores...
, São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island
São Miguel Island , nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. The island covers and has around 140,000 inhabitants, 45,000 of these people located in the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.-History:In 1427, São Miguel...
in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and as a young boy immigrated with his family to the East Coast of the United States. In 1978, the artist settled on California’s Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
where he shares his talents with the local community as well as international art enthusiasts. Though he admits to often ‘swimming against the current, his painting philosophy is to awaken hope, invoke a sense of well-being and share colors of life, de Brito is content to quietly observe nature and to allow his images to speak to the human heart.
Along the way, he has had many solo exhibits, he's also been member of several art's organizations, the Santa Cruz Art League, Art Association and Museum and The Beachcombers Club.
of late, de Brito’s works have been found at Kate Nolan Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, Thanassi Gallery in Provincetown Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the Hauk Fine Art Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA and the The Gone Tomorrow Gallery, in Santa Cruz, California.
He was also part of group exhibit in 2008 with friends Nathan Oliveira
Nathan Oliveira
Nathan Oliveira was an American painter, printmaker, and sculptor, born in Oakland, California to Portuguese parents...
, Mel Ramos and John Mattos, The book "Ashes to Life- A Portuguese American Story in Art" was published for the exhibit, with interviews with all four artist.
Memberships
The Beachcombers Provincetown,Santa Cruz Art League,
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
The Provincetown Art Association and Museum is located at 460 Commercial Street in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is the most attended art museum on Cape Cod. The museum's permanent collection includes over 2,500 objects, a number which...
External links
- http://www.joaodebrito.com
- http://www.joaodebrito.net
- http://www.redroom.com/blog/steve-hauk/god-wills-man-dreams-work-born-fernando-pessoa-1888-1935-portuguese-poet-and-writer
- http://www.joaodebrito.us
- http://www.sanchezartcenter.org/ARCHIVES/2008/AshesToLife.html
- http://twitter.com/1joaodebrito
- http://www.portuguesefoundation.org/linkpage.html
- http://www.heraldnews.com/news/education/x415947774/Luso-American-group-visits-BCC-as-part-of-a-cultural-exchange
- http://www.facebook.com/joaodebrito1
- http://ww1.rtp.pt/icmblogs/rtp/comunidades/?k=%93New-Horizons%94---Joao-de-Brito.rtp&post=24842
- http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jo%C3%A3o-de-brito/10/378/705
- http://www.portuguesetimes.com/Ed_1844/Artes/br04.htm
- http://www.bristolcc.edu/gallery/exhibit/JANELASDAALMA_upcoming.html
- http://www.askart.com/askart/artist.aspx?artist=11000517
- http://www.artbusiness.com/1open/111908.html
- http://www.provincetownartguide.com/2008/galleries/thanassi.htm
- http://www.manyhands-capitola.com/wall-art_paintings.htm
- http://provincetownmagazine.org/Art/the-exuberant-images-of-joao-de-brito