Victor Manino has been setting up tent to show off his
artwork at the Riverside Arts Market every Saturday for the past five years. Manino
said he entered the art world in 1998 when his father died and was laid off
from his job of 27 years in the printing business.
Manino’s father had always wanted to be an artist and had
all the supplies but with work he never had the time. His mother was getting
ready to rid of all the art supplies when Manino decided to give painting a
try.
Manino said, “I planned on doing this closer to retirement.”
Given the circumstances he was forced to start sooner.
Manino said the benefits of being an artist are, “The
freedom of not having to work for someone else and not dealing with the
psychosis of working with others.” Manino didn’t want to deal with the
pressures of money; he said that it often drives people nuts.
He was often told that he needed to “pick a pallet and style
then stick with it” but, that didn’t interest him. Manino wanted to explore
different styles and try new things.
Due to his lack of consistency Manino said, ”Galleries would
hate me because I don’t stick with one thing.”
Maria Raegan, a former business student from Florida State
University, was admiring Manino’s work when she said, “I like the surrealism of
his work, it’s interesting. It looks like a fantasy.”
Business owner of Objects of Desire, Jill Owca, came to look
at Manino’s work. Owca, said, “It’s extremely unusual to go from something as
technical as a black and white painting to something extremely unusual. It takes a skilled artist to do that.”
Manino said in order
to become a vendor at the market you have to get approved. He described it as
“an extensive process.”
Not only was becoming a vendor difficult, he said that it is
a struggle coming up with paintings that people want to buy. His paintings
start at $12 and increase in price depending on size and color pallet.
Manino said the artists he most identifies with are Van Gogh
and The Impressionist. He said he struggles most with styles from The
Impressionists. However, the thing he said that sets him apart from all other
artist is that you can’t identify his work by looking at it.
The Riverside Arts Market has been going on for six years
now every up to December twenty-first. The market showcases a wide variety of
artists, from handmade pottery, paintings and jewelry, to silk-screened shirts
and unique accessories.
Even though he loves the freedom of not working for someone
else, Manino said that it is not easy being an artist. After doing the market
for five years he said he’s still impressed he can come up with things that
people will buy.
In coming up with paintings he said, “People use art to
antagonize others, I want them to look at mine and feel good.”
