Eric began drawing at a very early age. Born to parents from Madeira, Portugal and Le Marche, Italy; he was constantly inspired by western art specifically from the Italian Renaissance. Some of the artists most influential to Eric over the years include: Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Pontormo, Cellini, Bernini, Rembrandt, Ribera, Ramon Casas, Velazquez, Carpeaux, Repin, Solomon J Solomon, John Singer Sargent, Bonnat and Bouguereau. After studying Art History at the University of Guelph, he was accepted and enrolled at The Florence Academy of Art in 2016. There he was taught to draw and paint the figure from life and compose portraits and still lifes, using the traditional methods and practices developed by the old masters from which he was so inspired by as a child.
Eric works only from life. This allows him honest and true artistic translation. Staying true to the sight size method developed by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France in the 1800s, he largely crafts his own materials, and hand preps his own canvases to ensure quality in each work. Working from life allows Eric total creative control and interpretation of his subjects.
Eric’s work has been awarded and featured by The Art Renewal Center, The MEAM Museum of Barcelona, and The Florence Academy of Art. He is an alumni of and has worked as a principle instructor of drawing at The Florence Academy of Art, and has exhibited internationally in Italy, Spain, The United States and Canada.