Cultivating Gratitude
Celebrated abstract-modernist artist Pietro Adamo finds luxury all around him, from the pursuit of creative passions to the support of a loving family.
Living Luxe Magazine (LL): What does living luxuriously mean to you?
Pietro Adamo (PA): The ultimate luxury is being able to choose what to do with your time. To that end, I’ve been fortunate enough to pursue a passion that has made me feel as if my time has been spent wisely. Painting continues to intrigue me, compel me and challenge me. The luxury to express yourself as a career choice can never be understated. The quiet of the studio in the early morning with the allure of a blank canvas never gets old.
LL: How does luxury and extravagance factor into your work?
PA: I have been drawn to elaborate textures and saturated colours and patterns in much of my art. My interest has always been in the complexity and intricacy of nature. Even when I choose “less is more,” the tendency will always be towards the richness or underlying sophistication of what seemingly appears simplistic at first glance. There is always more than meets the eye. In much of the figurative work, rich texture and colour is often used to help define the sequence of actions, and sometimes the personality of the subject. At times, the entire process can lead down a completely different path and I find myself exploring everything from Baroque extravagance to Bauhaus austerity within the same piece. The composition may be restrained and minimal at conception, but in the end, the resulting imagery may have taken the high road! I reserve the right to allow my art to take me wherever it needs to go. Recently, it has taken me to Queen’s Park, with two pieces acquired by the Ontario Art Archives. For that I am humbly grateful.
LL: What plays a role in allowing you to live your best life?
PA: I have been able to live my best life because of the support of a loving family. Erica and I have been blessed with two children and five grandchildren. It is not an exaggeration to say that family has been central in bringing out the best in my painting over the years. Sorry—no stories or great dramas about having had to suffer for my art. Whenever the pressure to create raised its head, a brisk walk through the McMichael [Canadian Art Collection] grounds and an espresso at a local cafe would calm the nerves. Golf would take care of the rest. Gratitude and happiness are acquired tastes by choice. I’ve been blessed to have cultivated a palate.
LL: What objects do you surround yourself with to inspire and support your everyday growth and why?
PA: My studio is adorned with a collection by the following modern masters: Adamo, Stefano, Mila, Matteo and Andrea Francesco (ages 18 months to eight years old). I derive incredible inspiration from their mixed media creations. They complete Nonno’s studio! Background music ranges from Puccini to The Beaches—it’s all good, and it helps summon the muse. The lyrics from Lucky Man by the Verve in disc form hang just outside my door. It was a gift from my daughter to remind me of how fortunate I am to be doing what I do. Indeed, I am a lucky man, with fire in my hand.
LL: How important is it to you to refresh and revitalize either your work or yourself?
PA: Success as an artist depends on constant review and renewal. It has and always will reflect a state of mind, body and spirit. Experiences, travel, relationships, deeply held convictions along with fear and elation—all of this will eventually seep into the artist’s imagery. A dear mentor once said to me that in art, “no clothing can cover your soul.” With that in mind, every artist should approach with absolute abandon and absolute joy in the process. The other piece of wisdom I have to offer comes from a friend who has been in the business of art since the ’80s: “There’s only one way to deal with a creative block: work through it. Throw out all the unsuccessful pieces; you’ll be surprised at how many you’ll keep—and how many will sell!” Renewal and revitalization can come through a change of scenery as big as crossing oceans or as simple as a walk in the autumn air. The key is to know that change is not the enemy; stagnation is.
LL: What would you tell others about living their most luxurious life and how they can strive to be their personal best?
PA: Living the luxurious life is about identifying what is precious to you and providing space and time for it in your life. When you are done chasing yachts and Lamborghinis, and if that’s still not enough, you might want to revisit the final thoughts on life provided by the late great Steve Jobs: “True luxury was never about ‘stuff.’”