Visual Language Magazine Contemporary Fine Art Vol 2 No 6 June 2013

Rita Cirillo
Colors On My Palette
http://www.ritacirillo.com
http://www.cfai.co/colors-on-my-palette/rita-cirillo
When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be ‘an artist’
There was never a single defining moment of realization that I
wanted to be an artist. As a small child, I loved coloring outside
the lines in the coloring books, but I loved many other things as
well, with playing outside being the most important thing I did.
After moving to Hawaii in 1974, I started taking painting classes and found that I enjoyed the process and was
producing results. But I had other concerns at that time as well: mostly raising 3 children. And then going to
college to study engineering and then working as an engineer. So, it was not until 1998 (or 99) when I traveled to
Europe for a plein air workshop with Ian Roberts that I honed in on my desire to be an artist. After painting all
day long, every day for 10 or 12 days, I realized that I REALLY liked the process of painting and that I COULD do
it all day without getting bored. From that point on, until I finally gave up the day job in 2005, I pushed to develop
my skills and work up the courage to take the leap into fulltime art
Who has been the greatest influence from your past to mentor you to this career
Strange as it may sound, I would have to say it was my Mother. She wasn’t even an artist and she had actually
passed away by the time I did stop working and leaped into art full time. She, as the mother of 9 children in a family
low on resources, was the most resourceful person I can think of. She made all of our clothes, often from fabric
recycled from used clothes; she kept a large vegetable garden and canned most of it to keep us eating throughout
the year; she made drapes, mended socks, embroidered, baked the most delicious bread... the list goes on and
on. At the time, I did not appreciate any of that, but in retrospect, I realize that it was her creativity that kept our
family afloat and that strongly influenced me to do creative things, as well. Her death in 2004 was revelation that I,
too, was mortal. That I would not live forever and if I wanted to make something different happen in my life, I had
better do it while I still had time, energy and health.
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Read more at http://www.cfai.co/colors-on-my-palette/rita-cirillo