Crumpled antique maps, the deep sea, lace, patterned wallpaper, branchy trees, oval portraits: These are the sorts of things you'll find in Danielle Rizzolo's incredibly intricate oil paintings, many of which look more like heirlooms than the work of a modernday 25-year-old. Enamored by her online portfolio, we wondered: Who is this girl, really? And where is she sitting when she paints all those little details we can pass so much time searching for? So we emailed her, asked her for a video tour of her workspace and—yes!—she agreed to give us one. Check out her charming footage, below. (Sneak peek: She works in the woods.)
Video shot by Rizzolo's friend John Murray; edited by Rizzolo herself (her first foray into iMovie making)
Some samples of Rizzolo's work (click here for more):
Modern Geography
"There is a line in a Death Cab for Cutie song that I always loved, “I wish the world was flat like the old days and I could travel just by folding the map.” I applied this old idea to our current world, and how easy it is to really be anywhere these days . . . There really is no distance that could hold you back." —Danielle Rizzolo, on what inspired this piece
Self Portrait
"I love how lace looks and it’s delicate nature, as well as the nostalgic feeling it brings. To be honest though, I think I really can’t seem to get over it because I haven’t really figured out how to paint it yet, so it’s still a very challenging subject for me." —D.R., when asked what some of her latest painting obsessions are
Blue Whale
"I view maps the same way I would view a painting, a work of art, which really back in the day they were. I think this started back in college, I was researching map reference for a piece and came a cross this book of antique maps, I fell in love. But I guess I can’t really explain why, I just love how they look and all of the detail involved" —D.R., on why she digs maps
If Not Now, Not Ever
"I’m pretty critical of my own work, but I would say one piece that I am fond of would be the portrait of the girl with the lace lungs, “If Not Now, Not Ever.” I can’t really say why either. I don’t think it is one of my strongest pieces nor have I a received a lot of feedback about it, but I guess it would be more of a feeling that I had while painting it or just the place I was at in my life while working on it." —D.R., when asked what her favorite piece is right now
Titanic-Heaven & Hell
Bride
"The ocean always has and will be a fascination of mine. It’s the idea of nature being more powerful than man. No matter how advanced we become in technology, a ship caught in a storm doesn’t stand a chance. Plus I could daydream for hours about the endless possibilities of what’s lost forever at the bottom of the sea. And of course, I grew up by the shore, so the ocean has been a constant thing throughout my life" —D.R., on her penchant for the ocean
Want to know more? Good, because Rizzolo gave us more. Here are a few other questions she answered over email:
Do you make a living off your art or do you also have a "day job?"
I definitely have a pattern of working a job for a while, saving money, trying to make a living off of my art, and then if I can’t it’s back to another part-time job. The last few months I have been able to just paint, but I recently started working part-time at a small frame shop. It’s easy for me to forget how having a job (that doesn’t demand too much time) can really help me add structure to my art-career. Plus I enjoy people and learning new things, which sitting in a studio all day with just zoe-boe (my dog) doesn’t always fulfill. And of course a little extra cash never hurts.
How much money do you make off your art?
It’s hard to say since I have yet to really experience any kind of consistency. Illustration jobs can really range in fees depending on the client and circulation of a publication. I will say that my paintings can sell anywhere between $800-$3000 per piece, I’ve had years when I sold 14 pieces, and times when I sold 6.
You've done paintings based on books ("Evening" by Susan Minot and "Strega Nona" by Tomie dePaola). Any books you're reading now that you might want to bring to life?
I’m trying, for the second time, to get through Anna Karenina right now. But I can’t say that I’ve recently read anything that has sparked an idea for a painting lately. I also have not been reading as much as usual, and I think this definitely has an impact on my work. I don’t always make it a known fact, but reading is probably one of my main sources of inspiration. A lot of my paintings stem from things I have read. I think I could make paintings for the rest of my life based off of J.D. Salinger and the things I feel and visualize while reading his work.
Have you faced any challenges as an artist?
About a year ago I hit a point where I felt like I was painting and painting but I wasn’t seeing any results, and I was soo over trying to be an artist and working at a coffee shop. I didn’t want 10 years to go by and still be doing the same thing. This is definitely something I still deal with, but at the same time I’ve heard of it taking 10 years for artists careers to finally start to flourish, and it really is different for everyone. I do question if there will a come a time when I’m tired of trying to make it, and decide to stop working these small dead end jobs on the side and just get a new career, with health insurance and a 401 k plan, ha. But I know the answer at the same time, and I’ll never realistically stop, painting was never an option for me, I didn’t have a list of things I wanted to do and decided to be an artist. Since I was young it’s just something I knew, I have to do it, it’s the type of thing that’s just in me.
To buy one of Rizzolo's prints (I'm gonna), visit her Etsy shop. More works and posts like this will be coming in the future.
