Roger Garcia is a self taught freelance illustrator and art educator based out of Edmonton Alberta who works in acrylics, gouache, ink and digital media.
Aside from his own art making, Roger is involved in the Edmonton arts community giving back and sharing his skills whenever possible facilitating drawing and painting workshops for children and adults in art galleries, schools, youth camps, local art events, and festivals in and around the city.
A refugee from El Salvador, Roger and his family escaped to Canada in the 1980’s fleeing a civil war. His father and mother always taught the family to be humble, never forget your roots, and give back to the community and to those without a voice. In 2011 his family was awarded the Salvos Prelorentzos Peace Award recognizing those who have made significant contributions to peace and human rights. His heart has always been in art, education, community and making people smile. Which is why in the year 2000 he organized and created an 8 year fundraising event that was called “Doctors and Derrieres”. Where medical students and professional doctors from Edmonton and the University of Alberta posed nude for local talented artists to draw and sculpt their figures. The art pieces created were then auctioned off, with proceeds going to help an emergency health project in rural El Salvador. The funds raised from this event helped over 3000 people in 30 poor rural communities.
His current project is a personal comic book about his late dog and father that deals with loss and grief. In this book, Roger hopes to inspire readers to adapt during hard times while offering love, humour, hope, and comfort.
This project was generously funded by The Edmonton Arts Council.