Artist Profile: Catherine Fasciato

Catherine Fasciato, was born in Hong Kong and raised in both Hong Kong and Yorkshire, England. She's been artistic since childhood. Art served as a means of communication as well as a pleasant escape. As a child, Fasciato would take walks into the English countryside with a sketchbook, often drawing horses or painting sunsets.

After studying art at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Fasciato took lessons from Benicia artists such as Jody Mattison, Tara Keefe and Randall Sexton. Painting stylized portraits was her focus, but she began painting landscapes from photographs.

It was classes with Mary Lou Corriera and Pam Glover that got Fasciato hooked on plein air painting. Once Fasciato discovered the joy of painting from life, she began painting plein air and still life. She began painting with Da Group, the plein air group started by . “I love being outdoors. I like the challenge of the changing light and shadows,” says Fasciato. 

Fasciato is influenced by Asian art's distinctive aesthetic. She also takes inspiration from nature and the elements. She prefers to paint with oil color for its rich feel and unique texture. “Painting is like music, it should stir the emotions," she says.

A member of both Arts Benicia and the Benicia , Fasciato has been active in the Benicia art community since 2000. Aside from painting, she enjoys music and tending her rose garden. Fasciato still takes long walks for inspiration, mostly in the Mount Diablo open spaces these days.