Valerio Ventura
Valerio Ventura's art show "Buy This Trash" at Cartoon Network - Burbank, California - Feb 25, 2009
Valerio's canvas of choice "a box". Give him a cigar box, a box lid, a pizzia box or a box marked fragile. He will turn what other consider trash and produce works of art. We got a chance to ask him some questions and this is what he had to say.
(OBR)
Hi Valerio and welcome to our website.
(VV)
Thank you.
(OBR)
Can you tell our audience a little bit about yourself?
(VV)
I'm an artist, studied at the Liceo Artistico Giorgio de Chirico in Rome, Italy (School of the Arts) named after the famous surrealist painter. I left Italy in the early 80's to come to this country and worked in the animation and live-action field since.
(OBR)
Can you share with us one of your favorite accomplishments or achievements?
(VV)
I have two. In 1979 at the age of 20 and a month after finishing the Liceo, I was approached by a publishing company, and in the span of two years I had my own office, and worked on six books. I was the only illustrator for Enitalia, and worked on subjects spanning from a book about the Roman Empire to another about medicinal plants and a book about pregnancy which I had to research with many prominent doctors in the medical field. A total of over 2800 illustration for all six books. That's how I got my feet wet, I was published 6 times by the age of 20! The second accomplishment is the film I just finished, a 22min psychological thriller titled WINTER. I wrote and directed it about ten years ago, then ran out of money and shelved it 'til about three years ago when I started to edit it. It was a very hard thing to do because I didn't know what writing was when I did this film, so I had to edit it and stay true to what it was and not try to make it anything else. My brother Bruno scored it magnificently and that was an amazing process to go through. I finished the film in December 2008 and I'm proud of it especially considering it's all shot on film and everything was finished at the highest level of post production, and that alone, I challenge anyone to have that in their crappy You Tube flicks. Hey, I might not have story, but I have quality! ha ha ha!
(OBR)
We are here at the Cartoon Networks viewing your artwork. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspires you when you draw?
(VV)
I get inspired by the news, by architecture, by a passing car, a bird crapping on your hat... I mean, your helmet. I get inspired by people, humanity, I really don't search for it, it's all around me.
(OBR)
I noticed a lot of architectural and mechanical features in your work. What do you see or think about when you draw these parts as a whole?
(VV)
Well I studied architecture and wanted to become an architect, I attended the university in Rome for about two minutes, in fact I never made it to my first class. I walked out and never looked back, I took a job with a prominent model maker (Carlo delle Piane who owned a boutique studio where they built the models for; The Watergate, JFK Airport, and many Pier Luigi Nervi models.) I love architecture and I'm always so intrigued by the blend and conflict between nature and human dwellings.
Again I get my inspiration from what's around me.
(OBR)
I liked the depth and layering of the cigar boxes. When you start working on a new box do you know how it's going to come out or is it more off the cuff and it's finished when it's finished?
(VV)
The boxes are off the cuff and mainly I just provide my work and approve the outcome, but I don't make them, my friend Melissa Curtis www.myspace.com/mmpurses is the one behind the magic of the boxes. Using what I provide she makes them. Once they're done I might put a final touch, and sign them myself individually.
(OBR)
We like to end our conversations by getting your two cents. I have a couple more questions. I would like it if you could give our audience some advice. Can you give us one professional experience that you encountered as a director and one as an artist that you endured and that has a great lesson learned.
(VV)
I remember working for a studio in the early 80’s and meeting a young talented artist that used to sit next to my cube. One day I was so proud to have a job that I was waving my pay check and saying: “wow, I just got a raise I’m making $250/wk.!” Now, I knew it wasn’t much, but I was led to believe by my Italian boss (a paesano!) that that was a good salary for an artist at my “level” working as a full-on designer in an animation studio. So my friend Woody looks at my paycheck and then looks at his, and turns around kind of disappointed and I could sense a little bit of anger. Few minutes later he comes over and he sits me down. “Ok Valerio…” Woody says. “I wanted to show you my paycheck” So I take a gander and realized he was making $900/wk doing exactly what I was doing. Woody smiled from ear to ear. He knew what he had done for me was great and opened my eyes. I quit soon after and got a job at H-B for about $750/wk. I lost touch with my friend Woody. He moved to Japan got married and started a family. Japan became his 2nd home. Twelve years went by and I got a job at a major studio as a producer, as my office was getting set up, I walk next door to my office and there I see Woody, at his desk working away producing/directing some tv spot. This was a great reunion, eventually I got to meet his family etc… few weeks later Woody is talking to me about things, work and the subject of money comes up, and he tells me how he was concerned to ask his manager for a raise, so I ask him, “How much do you make now?” so he tells me. I realized, that I was making 1/3 more than he was, so I waited for my next paycheck to come in and .. yes. I walked into his office, and put it right on his desk. I have waited so long for that moment, you have no idea how much I wanted to do something for someone so caring, gentle and the most gracious human being I’ve ever met. Woody off course got a raise immediately as he was a tremendous asset to the company. What’s the moral? Don’t just watch your back, watch your friend’s back as well. BTW, I truly believe that in a workplace it’s always imperative that people are happy, cause that will always translate in better and more for the company.
(OBR)
Last question. Can you give our audience a product or service that you would like to recommend. It could be either professional, personal or something that you just like?
(VV)
The exhibits last touch was provided by one of the most amazing services I've ever used. Universal Art Gallery in Venice, California. They do all my framing, also they do the framing for most of the major studios, they very well known for their amazing museum quality work and their very low prices. Their printing department it's awesome, Titano Cruz is the person I trust with all my printing and he heads that department. This is a family owned business owned by Marcia & Lucas da Silva the nicest people you'll ever meet.
(OBR)
Thanks again for letting us come down to the Cartoon Networks to view your work and letting us get into your mind. If you would like more information about Valerio Ventura check out his links below.
(VV)
Thanks Again
CIAO!
To find out more about what Valerio is doing check out these links below:
Valerio on youtube
Valerio imdb
Valerio Blogspot
If you would like to see somemore of Valerio's work and see what he has to offer check out his online store
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