It’s never difficult to find reclusive Toronto artist Dino Ciccone. Rarely leaving his studio, he’s a fixture at the easel helping his clientele mark milestones and celebrate loved ones. Self-taught and specializing in portraiture, he is inspired by the academics like Jules Joseph Lefebvre and masters of brushwork like de László. “I always strive to capture the best likeness of the sitter. The idea that one brushstroke, one detail can bring the sitter to life and capture their essence is the challenge that I love.” His work has been honoured by The Portrait Society of Canada.