Olimpia Gambacorta

Helping animals has always been a natural thing for me. For as long as I can remember, I have felt compelled to rescue baby birds, stray dogs, or turtles that happened to wander onto a main road.I suppose that I help them because I can't imagine a world without them, they don't have a voice , and they are my brothers. By joining AHA, I have the opportunity to make a larger contribution and reach many more animals with the sale of my artwork.

Bio
A NATIVE NEW YORKER AND ARTIST ALL HER LIFE, OLIMPIA WAS ALWAYS COMFORTABLE WITH A BRUSH. ART WAS A TRADITION IN HER FAMILY. PICKING UP DRAWING TOOLS BEFORE SHE WAS FOUR, SHE FONDLY REMEMBERS SKETCHING WITH HER GRANDFATHER ON SUNDAY VISITS.

SHE BEGAN OIL PAINTING WHEN SHE WAS 12, HAD HER FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION AT A LOCAL LIBRARY AT AGE 13 AND AT 14 RECEIVED HER FIRST COMMISSION FOR AN OIL PAINTING.

IN 1983, SHE FORMED THE COTTAGE INDUSTRY "MENAGERIE" BASED ON THE SCREEN PRINTED ANIMAL SHAPED PILLOWS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, OLIMPIA DESIGNED AND HAND PAINTED PILLOWS OF DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMALS ON LINEN CANVAS, WHICH ARE NOW REGARDED AS COLLECTIBLES.
SHE ALSO EXPLORED OTHER THEMES SUCH AS ANTIQUE DOLLS, VICTORIAN ANGELS, AND PILLOWS DEPICTING HOLIDAY DESIGNS.
REQUESTS SOON STARTED COMING FOR PETS AND OLIMPIA WAS COMMISSIONED TO PAINT THEM FROM PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHS. SHE PAINTED HUNDREDS OF BREEDS WHICH SHE FASHIONED INTO PILLOWS.

OLIMPIA'S PAINT BRUSHES WERE NEVER DRY. BETWEEN FILLING ORDERS FOR PRIVATE COMMISSIONS AND RETAIL STORES, HER WORK WAS SOLD NATIONWIDE AND ABROAD.
SOME OF THE NUMEROUS STORES THAT CARRIED HER LINE OF PILLOWS INCLUDED BERGDORF GOODMAN, HENRI BENDEL, MACY'S PET BOUTIQUE, MOLE HOLE STORES, GUMPS OF SAN FRANCISCO, WORLDLY GOODS IN RYE NY, WINTHROP COLLECTION, THE BRUCE MUSEUM GIFT STORE AND THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FOLK ART STORE. HER WORK WAS ALSO FEATURED IN SEVERAL CATALOGS INCLUDING SWEETGRASS, HORCHOW, SPIEGEL AND PERSNICKETY.

OLIMPIA IS A TRADITIONAL ARTIST WHO WORKS IN A REPRESENTATIONAL STYLE. "Realism is a challenge that keeps me excited about painting. I work with transparent glazes, building depth, but often the subject will influence the approach that I use. There is always a personal connection when I see something that I want to paint, and it is usually some aspect of nature."

OLIMPIA IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE AKC MUSEUM OF THE DOG ARTIST REGISTRY AND NEW ROCHELLE ART ASSOCIATION.

ALTHOUGH SHE IS A FULL TIME PAINTER, SHE GIVES PRIVATE ART LESSONS TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WHO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN PAINTING AND DRAWING.

OLIMPIA RESIDES IN NORTH WHITE PLAINS NY WITH HER HUSBAND AND THEIR TWO SHIH-TZU'S.

"I think I could turn and live with animals" - WALT WHITMAN

LINKS
http://www.bluemoonstudiosny.com
http://www.cafepress.com/bluemoonstudios