Phil Couture

Philippe Couture was born in Drummondville, Canada in 1984 and currently resides in Kyoto, Japan. Phil’s art education was primarily self-taught. His training consisted of drawing and painting from life, studying masterpieces in museums around the world, and employing exercises taught by classical ateliers. Among his influences are Velasquez, Sargent, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Waterhouse, Mucha, Utamaro and Hiroshige.

After graduating from college and uncertain of his future career as an artist, Phil worked as a veterinary technician assistant in Florida. During his breaks, he would sketch the vast array of animals that passed through the clinic. “Sketching animals at the clinic was really the foundation of my art training. Animals do not sit still for very long, so it really allowed me to train my eye and capture form and movement quickly.” says Couture. After offering drawings and paintings of clients’ pets at the clinic, Phil began his professional art career.

In 2011, his wife was offered a teaching position in northern Japan, where they now live. Phil has exhibited artwork in solo and group shows in America as well as Japan. Aside from public exhibitions, his work hangs internationally in private collections.