Telagio Baptista is a transplant to Omaha, Nebraska. He is a professional watercolor realist, instructor, and art juror. Born and raised in California, he has lived in Northern California since 1985. Before 1985, Telagio owned and operated a graphic design studio in Hawaii for 20 years.

His love for the visual arts resulted in his high school paintings that won national awards and were awarded a scholarship to the San Francisco Fine Art Institute. Telagio finished his education with a BFA. Telagio’s watercolor paintings have won juried art competitions internationally, nationally, and regionally. Telagio is a visionist in portrait, figurative, waterscape, and cityscape artists using various atmospheric painting techniques. He often utilizes negative space to give his images room to “breathe” and express a specific feeling or mood. Every painting tells a story. He uses a limited palette, valuing simplicity and restful space. In his view, “watercolor is magical, an exotic medium with no boundaries.” Telagio’s images vary from entirely realistic to somewhat more impressionistic. Telagio conducts private and group watercolor workshops in Omaha, including at the Staenberg Omaha JCC. His next workshop here will be held on  July 26th. Click here for more information.