 Local
artist Anton Costantino with one of his latest sculptures crafted from
stainless steel.
Anton Costantino
left his hectic life in the world of advertising behind 15 years ago
to concentrate solely on his work as an artist.
Wanting to fulfil his passion of art to create pieces that translate
underlying meaning about the world around him, Anton uses 'expressionism'
to convey his experience of life and knowledge of the art world.
Anton won a prize for 'Spirit of the Mountain' in the Mt Buller Easter
art show this year, which is one of many pieces to receive awards over
a career that has lasted decades.
He develops his pieces through the use of stainless steel in sculpture,
but also continues to paint, mainly with acrylic.
Anton's sculptures and paintings express a semi-abstract view of how
he perceives nature, but also society and the structures people and
animals have ritually grown accustomed to.
"It's beauty that I look for through the cockatoos, feeding the
kookaburras and the songs of magpies, but there is a lot of ugliness
in that beauty too," Anton said.
"What makes good art is seeing the beauty, but also the ugliness
and plucking the essence of whatever you see."
Anton used to dabble in painting landscapes, but merged to work with
pastel and began the pastel drawing society some 30 years ago.
It was rare that his works would come away with anything less than a
first or second prize.
Although he loves to paint with oils because of the freedom that comes
with this medium, he now works with acrylic because of the charm it
possesses and he often paints his sculptures after they are created.
To create his sculptures Anton produces hundreds of spontaneous drawings,
sometimes using Greek symbolism.
He then makes a small model out of bees wax to give a starting point
to how the finished creation will look.
Anton said art is about being spontaneous and when you're mind is clear
you can be creative.
"It is about interpreting what you see and although people love
pretty pictures, it's not where I am at - I want to express a feeling
or event," he said. "In terms of creating art, no amount of
research will make a difference in the end, it's about what you feel.
"Art can be over a lifetime - some people play with it, some people
are serious, some people are not... if you're serious, it's hard work,
but then it all begins."
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Photo
and editorial by Steve Kelly, Journalist at the Mansfield Courier
Phone: 57752115
Direct: 57331108
Mobile: 0427 050798
Email: edit.mcourier@nenews.com.au
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