 |
About the Artist
With a long-standing interest in incorporating nontoxic and eco-friendly materials into her artwork, artist Cassandra Tondro uses leftover acrylic latex paint – better known as house paint – in her paintings. She rescues the paint from recycling centers in the Los Angeles area before it is sent to landfills, and also combs the “mistint” shelves of home improvement stores.
“By visiting these outlets regularly, I have assembled a palette filled with unusual colors. Once a color is gone, it is unlikely that I will find the exact color again. It's challenging to work with the colors that I find, rather than colors of choice. House paint comes in several finishes, including flat, satin, semi-gloss, and eggshell that add depth and texture to the surface of my paintings.”
Tondro has developed several methods of working with the paint. She pours, pulls and presses it onto canvas in layers. “House paint flows like thick rivers of molten color and forms intriguing patterns as I manipulate it on canvas.” While the paint is wet, Tondro often uses tools, washes of water, or her fingers to create imagery.
Cassandra's art has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the U.S. and abroad. Her work is in numerous public, corporate and private collections. In addition, one of her paintings was selected for the American Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon in conjunction with the Art in Embassies Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
She lives and works in Santa Monica, California. |
|
