MIMICO ARTIST Fernando, with partner Anya, proudly shows off his works of art for seniors. Photo by Tom Godfrey.
Mimico artist Fernando Ferreira has more than 400 beautiful pieces of art that he painted to enlighten hard-hit seniors sitting in stacks in his apartment.
He is having a hard time obtaining help from area politicians to help distribute his abstract artworks to the more than 700 homes for seniors in Ontario.
Fernando has completed more than 400 pieces of art. He is painting 1,001 one-of-a-kind creations for seniors across Ontario.
The former 30-year TTC driver is still out in his lakeside studio on most days trying to complete 1,001 pieces of art for the 721 long term homes in Ontario.
The art is painted on two feet square boards, is original and contains a heart and love. They come in bright, upbeat colours that helps people celebrate. He hopes to be finished by next June.
“This is a project of love to help lift our seniors,” Ferreira said. “All the paintings are bright, upbeat and are meant to help them in these challenging times.”
He has not received replies for requests for help from most area politicians, except for the office of PC Christine Hogarth.
“I still have a couple more hundred pieces to create for the seniors,” Ferreira said. “Every long care home will have one.”
He is receiving support from the community and requests to sell some of his works has been refused. The artist estimates it has cost him about $1,000 so far on wood, paints and other materials.
“This art is meant to brighten the lives of our seniors. It is free and not to be sold to anyone,” he vowed.
He hopes to have the pieces of art hanging proudly in all seniors’ residences, many which have been hit hard with COVID-19.
The artist has four stacks of his works in his one bedroom Mimico Estates apartment and needs a hand to get them into long term care homes across Ontario.
His work is described as “simple and upbeat.”
“Every painting has a heart and they contain so much love,” according to reviews.
Ferreira, who is from the Azores, loves painting and artwork. His father was a noted paint chemist and at home “is where I learned to mix paints.”
In the 1960s when he first arrived in Canada he sold similar paintings to people in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville area and was able to save $5,000 in three years to make a deposit on a house.
He has been living in Mimico for about 17 years and moved here for the lake, fresh air and beautiful trip by TTC to downtown Toronto.
Ferreira can be reached for artwork or donations at 647-855-0721.