Art and culture from other times and places inform and inspire his nostalgic connection to artists such a Pierre Bonnard, Eugène Boudin and Maurice Louvrier and the Fauves. He hopes to inspire those who see his paintings, to relate to an invention, a vision, instead of the world around them, to discover beauty in imaginary places that evoke reality. He sees beyond the distraction of reality. His landscapes evoke a certain simplicity.
​
He strives to synthesize three important elements within his works: nature as it appears to the naked eye, the feeling that it gives him, and the form in which he chooses to represent it. In balancing these three elements –through the use of color and broad brushstrokes– he focuses on flattening the shapes and forms in his works to create a cohesive image.
Lagos (1954– ) Tropical Years, ©.
16 x 20 inches, acrylic paints on canvas. Turbulent clouds with churning sea.
Lagos paints in order to convey his innate urges to create meaningful paintings. Clearly, French Impressionism and German Expressionism have voice in his paintings. His concepts about painting revolve around these movements. His bold colors and flattened forms illustrate his thoughts on any given surface on which he paints. He paints and creates instinctively until his vision appears on his medium of choice.
​
He understands the knowledge of the eye; a measure by which creates. The Impressionists and Expressionists understood this phenomenon. An emotional connection to a creation which dictates its completion, shape and form.
Lagos ignores the concept of art as being an exact imitation of the visible world, if he feels the sky should be yellow, he paints it as yellow and not blue; if it coincides with the knowledge of the eye then the sky is yellow.
​
Today, as in 1986 he chooses to create his paintings in the privacy and solitude of his at-home studio. His distinctive style expresses a vibrant spirit which reflects his life attitude. His independent nature permeates in all his works.
​
He also draws inspiration from his travels not only to France but to exotic places such as China, Turkey or Egypt. But most of all, he enjoys living in the Pacific North West where he presently lives.