As a self-taught artist, the process of defining his niche has been challenging and satisfying for Salvatore Dibartolo.
He has explored a whole host of subject matters and different mediums but is very drawn to the qualities of oils and the amazing results it helps him achieve.
Salvatore is drawn to light and shadows which is a recurring theme in his artwork, many of his works centre around his travels during his youth to visit grandparents in Sicily. The endless days spent at the beach or in the countryside taking in all the magic of a Sicilian summer is a huge inspiration for his current works.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Salvatore to ask him about his creative process and the inspiration behind his Good Times Collection.
What is a typical day in the studio like for you?
A typical day in the studio varies for me. If I have a deadline looming, I usually head straight to the studio first thing in the morning to paint until the daylight begins to fade.
I usually paint several pieces at a time, I’m a little impatient so it’s good to have several pieces to work on simultaneously. I usually spend evenings thinking about new artworks, sketching ideas and scrolling through thousands of photos on my phone trying to find inspiration.
Describe your artwork in 3 words
1. Sicily
2. Quirky
3. Playful
1. Sicily
2. Quirky
3. Playful
Can you tell us about your creative process? How do your paintings evolve?
Sometimes I have a clear idea of what I’d like to paint, however once I get started and feel it’s not working I’ll rethink the concept, leave it for a few days and then go back to it. Other times I’m so in the zone I’ll finish a piece in just a day or two or at least have most of it worked out.
I have an album on my phone which is dedicated to ideas so I continually add or remove photos and try to sketch something out to evolve the idea.
Salv, you're a part time flight attendant, can you tell us about the many ways travel inspires your creative work?
I’m very lucky to be able to work as a flight attendant and fly internationally which forces me out of the studio. On work trips I try to stay on Melbourne time so I find myself awake in the middle of the night sketching or playing with my watercolours or watching trashy tv. I also try to take lots of photos wherever I am to help jog my memory on a particular scene, colour or place I’ve been.
Palm Springs is one of my favourite places as it continues to inspire my creativity.
When I have a long layover in LA, I try to hire a car and drive up for the day and explore the architecture and soak up the mid century vibe which I’m a huge fan of.
Best of all, I’ve discovered lots of art supply shops all over the world where I can find lots of things that are either quite pricey back home or hard to find.
As cabin crew we do get a lot of time off (and cheap airfares) so I also try and get back to Sicily once or twice a year. As most of my subject matter is inspired by Sicily, I make the most of soaking it all in and have a clear idea of my next batch of artworks by the time I get home.
Can you tell us about the work you’ve made for Good Times?
The artworks I’ve created for Good Times are my interpretation of the fun times I’ve had during my Sicilian stays.
A couple of pieces reflect how much I love going to the beach, not just to top up the tan or have a swim, but having a beach breakfast, followed by a long lunch and then aperitivo.
If you were hosting friends over, what would be your go to to Guarantee Good Times?
When I host friends, my go to is having everyone gathered round the kitchen island where we’re always usually trying to recreate cocktails we’ve seen or heard about. I also provide loads of antipasti to snack on, and Italian music in the background whilst everyone is talking and laughing over one another.
