Puzzle Pieces Magazine Issue 2: Visual Artist Issue

I visualize what it is, not what it isn’t -Nas

Ebbing and flowing through this mind state, This frustrating tempo isn’t easing my attempts to placate, Coupled with the fact that my sleeping habits are leaving me irate, I’m a walking zombie all to maybe reach my sealed fate.

Under the guise of creative freedom, I’m tasked to innovate through self motivation, With inspiration and thought provoking aspirations as my guide, I let go of what I once knew in order to free my mind.

I dig deep to see what I can find, In my universe full of complicated emotions, An internal conversation sparks and sets ablaze a path, One foreign to me but nevertheless I’m intrigued by its rath.

Through the natural disaster I find my way, Navigating these complexities with a great deal of levity, Honing in on my strengths allows for creativity to breed with clarity, Finding new ways to express myself without a debilitating level of disparity.

I suppose there will always be doubts, Which results in a nagging inner voice that consistently shouts, But hiding in plain sight, Is my calm confidence that’s willing to put up a fight.

-Andrea Rella

Inside the Mind of Andrew Abballe

Andrew Abballe’s only concern as an artist is whether or not he’s consistently evolving. He isn’t here for labels or the subjective nature of art, he’s here for the expression.

Written by: Andrea Rella

Photography by: Christian Coccuzzo

ndrew Abballe is in his element-Shorts, a sweater, and surrounded by his masterpieces in his cozy yet busy home studio. His hospitality doesn’t go unnoticed as he brings a few waters and espressos accompanied by some sambuca to add to the stimulant (the Italian sugar *wink wink*). Every nook and cranny of his basement studio is taken up by his art that’s either finished or partly finished; some are a workin-progress, some he’ll never get back to, and the ones that are finished are stowed away because he doesn’t really think of them. “You know it’s funny, there’ll be times when I finish a piece and I’ll love it, but then a month later I’ll hate that same piece because I’ll start to see all the flaws. Maybe I overthink too much because there’s this constant need of proving myself as an artist.”

For any type of artist, releasing art is always tough because of the vulnerability attached so something near their definition of perfect is the goal. It’s deflating when your art isn’t coming out the way you envisioned it, but the key is doing your personal best so that you could let go. Andrew recalls speaking to an artist that’s an inspiration, “I overthink many of my paintings so I DM’d an artist who wraps his canvas’ first then paints overtop of them and still finishes quickly. I asked him how to paint that fast and he simply said just paint faster. The thing is no one really cares, so don’t lose the forest for

the trees. That prompted him to explore different forms of artistry like custom shoes, jackets and sculpting which allows him to exercise his various interests. With every new work brings forth some old techniques, while practicing new ones that create a medley and effectively knock him out of his own comfort zone. It’s when an artist gets comfortable that it becomes demoralizing and he’d rather stay away from that because, ““Once you become a

he also understands and appreciates artists who’re not classically trained as they bring something exciting to the table. “They don’t work in a vacuum” so they’re not bound by the confines of what they were taught but instead they’re allowing the creative energy to envelop them and take them somewhere limitless.

blue-chip gallery selling artist and become famous for one style, you’ll continually be asked to make the same paintings for the rest of your career and that could be deflating.”

Getting his BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) from York University was the turning point for him. “It was external validation, and concrete evidence that I was an artist. Because academics is important to my evolution, I want to get my MFA and become a professor one day.” Consistently evolving through academics is how he envisions his growth, but

The different types of art that consumes Andrew allows for a more free-flowing work process. Treating every piece like their own entity, he gives them the respect and space to be what they’re supposed to be even if mistakes happen. It’s all a part of his creative process which is even more amazing once you find out that he’s color blind. “Primary colors are easier to see but once I get into secondary and tertiary that’s when they kind of blend together.” His younger self tried to ignore the fact but as he got older, he realized he could use it to his advantage. “Most times I’m just feeling my way through the piece.” His creative instinct has only grown stronger as he’s allowing his visual impairment to guide him.

He’s currently in the process of working on a commissioned sculpture for a church which is coming out great because he has creative freedom

“Maybe I overthink too much since there’s this constant need of proving myself as an artist.”

Andrew accompanied by the skulls he hand sculpted

Someone will come up to him with an idea, he’ll work on it with full creative freedom, get their opinion on the piece and go from there. It’s when he doesn’t have creative freedom that he’s forced to look at it from a different angle, “There are pieces where someone will come to me with a vision already and I have to execute their vision with little creative freedom, so I use that as practice because I’m not emotionally tied to the project.” It’s a balancing act juggling your needs and wants as an artist, but somethings got to give; even Michelangelo took jobs that he wasn’t emotionally tied to.

It’s all relative since people are a product of their times. Artists were always known for reflecting society at the time but artists that made some of the most transformative artwork to date, still wouldn’t appeal in today’s world because their mindset is different than today’s. “It’s a different world but it’s a cycle and everything comes full circle. Charles Boudelaire said it best when he called artists “a flaneure which is someone who watches and reflects what’s going on but isn’t a part of it, so I think artists are mirrors of society”.

There needs to be art in society just as there needs to be text in books but with the world moving digital, art is different than what we’ve come to know. NFTs, digital art, art posted straight to social media where anyone has an opinion is the kind of art that’s popular nowadays which doesn’t faze Andrew. Referencing Damien Hurst when it comes to people critiquing an artist’s work, he says, “If your art doesn’t piss off at least 3 people in a room of 10, you’re doing something wrong.” That outlook allows the young artists the space to be okay with not appealing to everyone and instead, seeing the value in that. Art doesn’t always make sense to everyone, but if it gets you thinking then it’s doing its job.

Whichever way the world is heading, Andrew Abballe understands, “I’m constantly growing and learning so that my artistry can evolve and grow with me. I’m a lifelong learner so I don’t know if I can call myself an artist just yet, I still have so much more to learn”

“Artists are flaneures. We watch and reflect society but aren’t a part of it.”

Less. Isn't. More.

Anthony Ricciardi’s infectious drive is due to his simple business and life motto: Do more. It’s one he’s had since college which helped him build the foundation for his insprational output today.

Written by: Andrea Rella

Photography by: Andrea Rella

Less isn’t more you just have to do more. That’s the message Anthony Ricciardi has for aspiring creators if they’re to be successful. For him, it’s that simple because those aren’t just words but it’s how he’s always lived his life and one of the reasons he’s so successful. “I believe in the power of manifestations, but you have to put in the work in order for them to work.

You can’t just write it down then hope it’ll happen. If you really care about your dream, then it shouldn’t be unattainable as the struggle is a part of your journey which is why doing more is always the answer”

The Toronto artist has built a community of admirers based on his signature hearts accompanied by motivational quotes like “Follow Your Heart”, ``Dream Big”, “Enjoy Each Moment’’, or “Love Over Fear” amongst many more. It’s hard not to tell that those are some daily affirmations he keeps as he’s such a positive, charismatic person. “It all comes down to gratitude. I know how lucky I am to be in this position doing what I love so even on the day’s where I’m going through it, I know it’ll be okay because life’s good.” That attitude has helped him land some murals for resorts across the world, paintings for celebrities, countless art exhibits, and even an installation and interactive art gallery in Toronto’s Yorkdale mall. He’s dipped his brush into fashion with custom jackets in collaboration with “Dust of Gods” and recently, he got into jewelry with his company called Every Heart.

Always having a passion for art but never thinking it was a viable option, he kept it as a hobby and pursued other interests like baseball and finance. He was good enough to spend his college career playing Division 1 baseball in the States as a pitcher while studying finance. Between his intense schedule with athletics and schoolwork, it didn’t leave him much time for anything else but he rose to the occasion and hustled harder which built the foundation for when he graduated. He came back home to Toronto, got himself a finance job, and created a successful pitching school all while continuing to pursue his hobby of painting with whatever time he had left. It was in his parents’ greenhouse that he conceived the idea of his signature heart without even knowing. “I’d come home after working my finance job demoralized but then I’d paint these hearts on the walls and say, if I follow my heart good things will happen. It kind of just spiraled into what you see today”. Like any origin story the beginning was challenging because he wasn’t getting paid for his art and even when he was asked to do commissioned pieces, he had to turn them down because of his finance job. Until he got to a fork in the road and against the advice of the people closest to him, he decided to leave his job to pursue a career in art. The fruits of his labor were finally paying off as he was seeing his “follow your heart” mantra start to come to life.

Most times that’s the answer; just following your heart and trusting your intuition even if it doesn’t make sense to others. After not coming from a traditional art background, the judgment from others naturally came, but he doesn’t necessarily see that route as critical for

“You have to put in the work in order for your manifestions to come true. You can’t just write them down and hope they’ll happen.”

an artist. “School could teach you the techniques but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a career in art because they’re teaching you what they think is right. But art is so subjective so what’s right for you, may not be right for me. I’m an artist but I took business in school.”

For Anthony, a traditional route isn’t needed but what is needed for his personal evolution is to constantly push himself and being uncomfortable. Those feel more attainable to him than setting goals because “the goal posts keep moving” so adding something extra is a practice he keeps. Knowing what he’s trying to achieve bi-weekly or monthly is important but it’s harder to think any further than that. That “do more” mentality has bled over into his personal life with his wife and young child. Because of his busy schedule there’s a chance that he would miss out on important moments, but he curbs that by involving them in everything he does, “This is what I’ve always wanted so it all comes down to gratitude.” His family understands his business so there’s no misunderstanding when it comes to intentions. Understanding the value of hard work, balancing family time and his business, he makes no excuses for when things are slow. “When nothing’s working for whatever reason you have to have enough self-awareness to pinpoint that time period where you weren’t working very hard because it’s like a domino effect.”

Complacency is at the route of the victim mentality in the creative industries because there are so many ways to approach a scenario that you could get caught up in the what-ifs. What we’re realizing with social media is there’s no perfect execution, you just have to “throw as many sticks in the fire as you can otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for excuses”. Ricciardi named his first art gallery “Less is more” as a play on what people kept telling him when he was running his pitching school, working in finance and painting. He doesn’t like excuses and he’s living proof that it can all be done if you don’t make excuses.

Which is why he isn’t here for the people that say they’re burnt out but claim they have a passion for their work. “If you’re really passionate about it, how could you be overworked? The way that I get through it is by pushing through the mental block. Motivation doesn’t always come and sometimes I’ll do something else just to exercise that creative energy, but I’ll never stop.” Creativity comes in ebbs and flows but if you consistently work through that energy, it’ll become more fun and less task-like. Your ability to examine and not dwell is vital to success since, in this digital age, everything is so fast paced. Nothing good comes easily but Anthony puts it simply, “The people who’ve made a name for themselves are always going on record saying it wasn’t easy. It took countless hours and years to get to where they’re at. Isn’t that the answer?”

“Motivation doesn’t always come so sometimes I’ll do something else to exercise that creative energy, but I’ll never stop.”

Anthony working on a custom piece

@thifty.a.f

Why are we here if not for our pleasure?

Joy, happiness and light in equal measure. Times as those are the ultimate treasure But inspiration can’t spring in nothing but leisure

We seek to attain all that we can achieve That all it takes to win is to persist and believe But there’s more to life than what we perceive The most serenity oft, is in a little reprieve.

Writing the words down on the page Preserves the memory of a different age What we hold dear and beliefs we assuage Proses of inspiration for which to engage

What drives a passion? A determination to know Respecting the rules but breaking the quo

To really be different you must undergo A period of transformation - simmering and slow

And at the end of your tunnel if you see the radiant luster

Gather up the courage, all you can muster To break ceilings and expectations, one final cluster All while pushed forward by an excitant bluster.

-Sebastian Pugliese

KIRA MADE THIS

Kira’s artistic expression is unique to say the least. Shaped by her personal values, upbringing and self awareness, her use of sneakers as a canvas is a reflection of herself and the story she is trying to tell.

Written by Alex De Celis Photography by Christian Cocuzzo

Balance and Contrast

It was a busy day in Toronto, as the cool air and clouds covered the city. The busyness of the streets due to the Waterfront Marathon was a stark contrast to where we met Kira. Tucked away in her own personal studio, Kira’s workspace is simple: A wooden table, some industrial shelving, and large windows that span from the floor to ceiling. In front of her were her tools of choice which included an iPad, some all-white Jordan 1’s, and Angelus paint.

The simplicity of her studio and the white walls that surrounded it weren’t always what Kira was used to. “I was rambunctious as a kid, whenever I had a marker in my hands, I would colour something. It started as a need to express, and it hasn’t really stopped” she reminisces. That need for expression and fulfillment is truly at the core of an artist, and as we got to talk to Kira and learn more about her, that spark for expression would lead her into the world of custom sneakers.

“I’ve had to learn a lot about how to properly price myself, where to focus my energy, my time and what type of work I take on”. This sort of focus and prioritization speaks volumes for Kira’s work. “I’ve discovered my creative process is more feeling, I kind of like the aesthetic of taking things in the real world and putting them on something wearable”. It’s the storytelling aspect in Kira’s art that makes her use of sneakers as her canvas something special.

“Whenever I have art in my life it definitely feels more fulfilling. The freedom to create is where I felt my happiness”. Like many artists and creatives alike, Kira’s journey was one of straddling the line between her expressionistic self and the realities of life itself. Before her sneaker collabs with Complex, Silk Sonic or co-signs from Big Sean on her Detroit 2 custom sneakers, Kira navigated through this very conflict. “It was so ironic that I went to school to become an art teacher, but towards the end of my degree I barely had the time to do art on my own. The art suffered until I found a different way to navigate this, which I’m much happier now with my energy being intact”. “

A sneaker can carry many different meanings to people. To some it can carry sentimental meaning, to others it serves as a functional item worn casually, for work or for sport. For Kira, they serve as a canvas for her sense of expression and a longing for something she had always wanted and appreciated. “I wanted to work with shoes because shoes were something I was too broke for in university, but I appreciated them. Working with sneakers ended up being natural for me as it was a mix of my personality and a subculture I was fascinated by”. Her perspective on style and technique has resulted in a variety of unique designs and creations from her marbling effect to her colour combinations which are reflective of her inspirations such as music or feeling. “It’s a meditative process where I focus on how it makes me feel or what I’m trying to express,” she says. Pulling from these sources of inspiration is where the

“Whenever I have art in my life it definitely feels more fulfilling. The freedom to create is where I felt my happiness”.

This execution and process of forming an idea to placing it on a visual canvas can be the frustrating part for an artist as a piece is never ‘technically finished’. However, Kira reiterates the idea of “being in the moment” is often the contrary for an artist in the process of overthinking. “The best part is when I’m creating, just trying to be in the moment. If I have a vision in my head of what a shoe is going to like I go for it”. It’s through this essence and mindset that allows Kira to strike that balance of perfecting her craft while allowing herself the freedom to create. “I used to always want to chase things” she says, “whereas now I’m in more of a place of expressing and wanting to showcase that”. Her trust in her own vision and creativity are aspects that are central to Kira’s process.

The ideas of balance and contrast seem to parallel Kira’s art and beliefs. In a literal sense you can see the idea of difference in her custom sneaker designs, ranging from the colours she chooses, and techniques she employs, but these ideas are also seen in her personal beliefs from being self aware in maintaining her values and needs to express in her art. “I try to be aware of what I do with my work, I don’t want to lose that child-like mentality when it comes to creating, so it’s all about striking that healthy balance of being aware but also self-expression”. It’s this balance that gives Kira a unique perspective when it comes to creating.

beauty in Kira’s work shines. “I think that’s the beauty in it, because if someone gets it, they fully get it”.

Although the process is free-flowing and meditative, she is also self aware about the constant perfection of her craft. As she tinkers on her iPad and analyzes the stock pair of Jordan 1s in front of her she tells us that her current idea for a commission she is currently working on took her 6 hours to come up with. “I’m deleting and constantly tweaking and re-doing. I wish that was something people were more aware of, when an artist is creating, painting is like 20% of

the work. The creative process is your taste, where you place your colours, how you put things together, how you might’ve done it this way but go another way with it”.

As creatives, the emotion of being fulfilled and having the freedom to create in comparison to the realities of the circumstances that can surround us including work, school, and life, is a conflict that one may face during your creative journey. It is through self-awareness and knowing yourself, that one can push forward in this conflict with oneself. Kira seems to be in that space of knowing herself and the potential impact of her art.

If it’s one thing for certain, art and creating for Kira is paramount for her. “I’ve had low periods where art wasn’t present and those were the darker times in my life,” she says, “Whenever I have art in my life it definitely feels more fulfilling”.

Kira in her studio as she customizes a pair of Air Jordan 1’s.

“It’s a meditatitive process, where I focus on how it makes me feel”.

A special thanks to those who helped and contribtuted to the creation of this magazine.

First off, a big thank you to Abballe, Kira and Riccardi. Without those three this magazine would not have been possible.

Thank you to Lianne from Repurpus, Alexandria from thrifty.a.f., and Alessandro from 4MenUnited for the advertisements.

Thank you to Daniel for creating the logo that aligns with our vision.

Thank you to Sebastian and Dom for gracing us with your words and art for this issue.

Thank you to Christian for capturing these moments, your artistic eye was critical.

Thank you to to Giancarlo for providing us with another piece to the puzzle.

Thank you to Vrej, those late night grind sessions at the Puzzle Pieces headquarters will forever be legendary memories.

To our friends and family, thank you for always supporting and believing in us.

From an idea and a need to express and create, we hope that Puzzle Pieces can continue to be a medium for us to drive our ideas forward and a space to continue to cultivate all forms expresion.

-Andrea and Alex

Artwork by @andrew.aballe.art