
My name is João Magalhães, which is Portuguese for John Magellan. I was born in Jacutinga, a tiny town in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, the oldest of three siblings. The inhabitants of the town are mostly of Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish heritage, as is our family.
As a young child, one of my favorite interests was drawing. I dreamed of learning how to paint with oils, but opportunities in our little town were non-existent. Fortunately, when I was fifteen, our parents decided to relocate the family to Pouso Alegre, where we would have access to better education. In our new town, we immersed ourselves in extracurricular activities, and I was soon enrolled in oil painting classes, which I attended for three years. I was in heaven.
However, as time passed, other responsibilities took precedence: military service and then college, graduating in 1987 with a degree in law. The summer of 1989 saw me in school in California, studying techniques for teaching English as a second language (ESL), followed by a trip to Oklahoma in the fall, where time with friends helped with my language skills and understanding of American culture. Upon returning to Brazil, I started my own business, a school offering classes in English, Spanish, and art. Establishing the school opened the door to acceptance in a prestigious two-year educational program in small business administration, run by the government agency SEBRAE. While operating the business for ten years, I became increasingly compelled to further my education. In 2000, I was accepted into the master’s program in Teaching English as a Second Language at the University of Central Oklahoma, in the quaint town of Edmond.
Leaving Brazil was a painful and difficult decision, but determination and faith in God won out. After much preparation, I landed in Oklahoma City on May 11, 2001 to start summer school.
Soon after graduation in 2003, The Language Company agreed to sponsor a work visa and sent me to Pennsylvania in January of 2004 to work in one of their branches as the Director of Admissions and as an ESL instructor. I remained on the job with The Language Company until the end of October 2018. By that time, it had become clear to me that art should finally take center stage. This was the beginning of a new chapter in my life as a full-time artist.
It is important to mention a date of deep gratitude, April 22, 2016, when I was sworn in as an American citizen. Counting all the blessings along the way would be impossible, but the journey goes on.
On Cape Cod, MA, I am represented by the Julie Heller East Gallery, 465 Commercial Street, phone number 508 487 2166.
I work with oils because they translate into a better interpretation of the world around me.
Whatever pleases my eyes, touches my heart, and brings me joy holds potential for a painting. I am especially fascinated by contrasts of light and shadow and the ways we can use color to convey depth, mood, and shapes.
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Nothing like a study on primary colors for a fun and challenging painting experience! This piece required patience and many hours of work, but I am very pleased with the outcome. Oil on board 10x10 framed with a plein air black frame, available through the artist.
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An old photo of Cape Cod inspired this painting. The vision was to create a fun and whimsical view of a quiet place far from the hustle and bustle of tourism during the summer season. Oil on canvas 12x16 framed with a white floater frame, available through the artist.
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Poppy, one of the flower cottages in North Truro, sunbathed in the early morning September light. Oil on canvas 8x10 framed with a black floater frame, and available through the Julie Heller Beach Gallery in Provincetown, phone number 508 487 2166.
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I enjoy the challenge of placing different elements on a table and let them speak to me and lead me in the creation of a painting which is more evocative of a mood than of the objects themselves. Oil on canvas 9x12 framed in a black plein air frame, available through the artist.
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The inspiration for this painting was a collection of gifts from my partner: a teddy bear he gave to me more than 10 years ago, a small piece of blue Rookwood pottery, and a crystal vase for the flowers. These mementos of love bring a smile to my face. Oil on board 6x8 on a white floater frame, available through the artist. For more information, please contact me at artbyjoao23@gmail.com
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I wanted to create a painting in which the source of light came from the left side and created a reflection on the landscape. The scene is an invitation to take the road down to the station and to the beach. It is a reminder of destinations and possibilities, which are represented by the road and the ocean. Eastham is one of the many towns on Cape Cod, Mass. Oil on canvas 11x14 and framed with a light gray and black floater frame available through the artist. For more information, please contact me at artbyjoao23@gmail.com.
I would like to keep you posted on new paintings and new adventures!
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