As a seventh generation artist Joseph
P. LoCascio began his artistic career working alongside his artist
father in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. It was there that Joe learned an
appreciation of classical, commercial art and freehand lettering during
his apprenticeship. He would later gain more knowledge of his craft at
the various education institutions surrounding the Pittsburgh area,
including Carnegie Tech and the University of Pittsburgh.
It was at these higher learning
establishments that Joe studied interior design and advertising. He
began an internship while enrolled at school working in the display
department of Joseph Horne Department Store. it was here that Joe applied his knowledge of stage design
, marketing and pattern lettering. While he was advancing his career in
advertising, the United States Government called on Joseph to serve his
country during the Korean conflict, from which he was honorably
discharged.
Upon returning home Joe decided to
fast track his education and career by enrolling at the Art
Institute of Pittsburgh. There he continued his studies in all forms
of fine and commercial art. His primary focus in
advertising and illustration helped him secure a position as an
assistant art director after graduation with a Pittsburgh firm.
After four years, a Connecticut firm offered him a position as Art
Director.
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Joe LoCascio
It was there that Joe would
remain in that position for over twenty years. He practiced his craft in
the high pressure world of advertising until deciding on an early
retirement to pursue other business opportunities.
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Dee LoCascio
Although she had been drawing from an
early age, Dee developed her passion for art just after high school. Her
family was planning to relocate from the US to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where
her father had established a business. In order to complete her studies
before leaving, Dee doubled her classes and graduated at the age of 16.
While in Sao Paulo, the bustling city, masses of people as well as the
beautiful countryside were scenes she didn't want to forget and hoped to
share with others back home.
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It was in her attempts to sketch
the people and scenery of the country that she discovered her true
talent....and what would become a lifelong passion.
Before returning to the United States,
Dee traveled with her family from Brazil across the Atlantic by ship and
then along the coast of Africa to the Canary Islands. From there they
traveled to Portugal, where her family spent another two months
exploring cities and small hamlets. They returned to New York City, by
way of Canada, after traveling over 33,000 miles by sea. The images and
memories of the people she met on these journeys aboard the ships and in
these countries have stayed with her throughout her life and the early
portraits reflected what would become her lifelong desire to capture,
not only a persons image on canvas, but their soul and to convey to
canvas the scenery that nature painted.
Having experienced such a profound
desire to create art using both her natural talent and visual
inspiration, Dee knew this would be her life's work.
Upon her return to the US, she
enrolled in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and reveled in the total art
experience.
She favored and excelled in classes with live models. Her good fortune
was to have a master teacher, Vincent Nesbert, who taught the
intricacies of the measurement of the human form.
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Joe and Dee met while attending the
Art Institute. They married shortly after graduation and a few years
later moved to Connecticut. There, Dee raised the couples four children,
while Joe worked as an Art Director. During the years they spent in
Connecticut Dee exhibited her art and won top awards in shows throughout
New England.
Her paintings are in private
collections on four continents. The notoriety, together with a building
number of referrals led Dee to becoming a commissioned portrait painter.
Dee and Joe were invited to judge many art exhibitions together. Through
the years , Dee continued to expand her knowledge of art by informative
contacts and many well known national artists. From them, the range of
her work was influenced into developing new approaches and techniques.
Dee and Joe moved to Cape Coral
Florida in 1989. It was in Cape Coral that Joe took a position in the
production department of the local newspaper. In 1991 he helped his wife
open her own art studio "Artsmart" first at a small location for the
first eight years, then to a larger location in the heart of Cape Coral
for a total of twelve years of operation. During that time many national
and television artists gave 4 day seminars in her studio. She has always
been open to learning new and interesting approaches to art a continues
to enjoy the discovery.
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Despite having a large roster of
students and a long waiting list, Dee decided it was time to slow down
and reluctantly closed her doors in 2003. She still continues to teach
part time out of her home studio to a select group of students. Dee
remains a recognized member of the Portrait Society of America, and
continues to build upon an amazing portfolio of work. For the first time
in her career, she is making some of her most prized painting available
for exhibition and sale, both in gicleé and
original form. Dee and Joe created Art Trends USA for this purpose and
Joe has now begun to add his graphics to the website.
Joe paints primarily in oils and
acrylics. He is also known for his airbrushing techniques on his
illustrations. He has a variety of modern art as well as pop culture
pieces.
Dee is skilled in oils (both brush and
palette knife), colored pencil, pen & ink, basswood carving and many
other techniques.
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