Ray Mago
An engineer and a self-taught artist and a music enthusiast.
Artist's Statement
I have a very intense passion for art and art was really my first love. I can still remember how excited I was with my first box of crayons my mom bought me in kindergarten and how I'd loved to scribble and draw all the good things I see around me - all the flowers, trees, the fields, the birds and even my friends and my family. I did a lot of artworks in grade school. In high school, I'd even more began art explorations, composition, colors and values. I did still life, landscape, portraits both in watercolor and charcoal. I really wanted to take fine arts and architecture in college but dad encouraged me to pursue a degree in engineering. I never had the opportunity to paint more because I devoted more time in engineering, although, we had drawing subjects and studied arts in humanities classes.
After realizing that my artistic instinct had been idle for some time, I'd began to seek my long-lost passion for art. I started kindling what's left behind and what my hands love to do in the first place. I love pastels. I love the immediacy of pastels because I could express my feelings right at the moment. Pastels are very spontaneous to use, show expressive strokes and colors are vibrant. I also paint on oils, acrylics and watercolors. I do digital photography, too, and always love to 'point-and-shoot'. But I always find time to play my acoustic guitar.
Art Achievements & Awards
<> 2004 September, Juried in for the 53rd Annual Fall Art Roundup 2004 by the Las Vegas Art Museum
<> 2004 March, Juried by a panel of Masters of Fine Arts and admitted to the Henderson Art Association
<> 2004 Finalist International Open Amateur Photography Contest
<> 1980 March, Outstanding Artist of the Year, UA
<> 1980 January, First Place: On-the-Spot Watercolor Painting National Category Level
<> 1980-85, Artist/Contributor, "The New Builder", MIT
<> 1976-80, Artist "The Veritas", University of the Assumption
MEMBER
Henderson Art Association www.artistsinhenderson.com
Las Vegas Art Museum - affiliate of The Smithsonian Institution www.lasvegasartmuseum.org
Photographs Copyright © 2004 First Impressions by Ray Mago
Pastel Arts are Original Works by Ray Mago © 2004
