The following information was submitted by the artist:

Paul Rasporich works primarily as a painter, but also as a pastel artist and sculptor. His studio is in Okotoks, Alberta.  Rasporich's work is figurative.  His works are primarily of First nation peoples, mainly depict the Nakoda Sioux (Assinibione) people, both historically and contemporary.  Rasporich has done many commissioned portraits and also does paintings about fly-fishing.
 
Rasporich's artistic influences are vast, but mainly rooted in realism.  Artist's such as Vermeer, Michelangelo, Salvador Dali, Gustav Klimt, and John Singer Sargent are his major influences.
 
Rasporich attended and graduated from The Alberta College of Art and Design from 1982-1986. Upon graduation, Rasporich won an Award of Excellence from Communication Arts Magazine for a magazine illustration.  Rasporich was Trout Unlimited Canada's Artist of the year 2000, and was the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Best New Artist in 2002.