Tree of Knowledge Painting

ARTIST BIO Les is a professional visual artist, art educator, animator and graphic novelist. Les is focused on creating 3D models and texturing those models in ZBrush and Substance Painter. He has technical competence in Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, MARI, Nuke, After Effects, Premier Pro, Arnold and Photoshop. Les is a graduate of the Digital Animation program from Seneca College, and an art instructor at the Varley Art Gallery and the META4 Gallery. He has 20+ years of experience as a visual artist, animator and art educator. Les is completing a graphic novel (www.earthchartergraphicnovel.com), with the goal of inspiring and engaging youth and the public to take action on environmental. He exhibits works in galleries and art fairs/festivals throughout Ontario. Les' goal is to work as a 3D modeling and texturing artist with an animation studio and produce and direct his own animated film about climate change. ARTIST STATEMENT My experience as an artist started at the age of six with cartoon characters and comic books. The notion of heroism created a strong drive in me to make the world a better place. After completing a Bachelor and Masters degree in Environmental Studies from York University, I worked as a visual art instructor, environmental policy and conservation specialist, and youth facilitator; which led me to create environmentally themed artwork in 2006, which I showed at the York University Eco-Art Media Festivals. Since 2007, I have used visual art as a medium to educate and inform children and teens at primary and secondary schools in Toronto and the GTAH. Similarly I have made hundreds of presentations and given workshops on use of non-toxic, biodegradable materials and eco-art processes, in the use of art that inspires people to want to contribute to environmental sustainability in Canada. My strong arts foundation from McMaster University, Sheridan College and Max the Mutt, informed my "environmental art" which helps people learn about the ecological crisis and potential solutions. I studied 3D Animation at Seneca College, with the intention of making animated shorts that explore the narrative behind climate change, species at risk and habitat loss. I am an also an art instructor at the Varley Art Gallery and the Meta4 Gallery. I teach painting, drawing, graphic novels, animation and mixed media to children, youth and adults.