WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
RICHARD TOMAINO Class of 2005 Richard Tomaino Ceramics Studio Owner
Can you tell us about your journey into the world of ceramics? How did you first discover your passion for this art form? I first found pottery while conducting my apprenticeship in automotive sculpture (car design). I was working for a studio in Munich, Germany, and trying to develop my skills. I discovered that creating designs on the pottery wheel was a great way to hone the skills I was using in the studio. Plus it was fun. How did your education at Salesian College Chadstone shape your interest in ceramics? There were three pivotal mentors whose combined tuition and support helped develop my artistry. They taught me the value of artistic expression and how to channel creativity to a valued outcome. They were my Visual Arts, Graphic Design and Photography teachers: Ms O’Sullivan, Mrs Garafalo and Miss Grace. Throughout my time at Salesian College, each teacher actively sought to help me develop and grow my skills and artistry as much as possible. Miss O’Sullivan was pivotal, and I was incredibly lucky to have studied under her. Her nurturing and passion for the arts is still with me, and I pass that same passion on to all my students. She asked me to look deeply into subject matter, to sift through the layers of artworks and seek the deeper meaning behind pieces.
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GRIFFIN Summer 2023
Mrs Garafalo has a special place in my family, as she had the pleasure (or misfortune) of teaching my brothers as well. She instilled an incredible care for detail and precision, which I came to develop deeply, thanks to her commitment. Design takes art into the commercial and functional arena, and I was well prepared for that in her care. Miss Grace took me into the fold of understanding light. The care she took to teach me not only the heavily technical attributes of photography, but how light carries, how the eye looks for line and detail. Incredibly, having never lost that touch, I now use those principles in my sculpture today. Each of these incredible women allowed me to make mistakes, nurtured my potential and helped me to grow as both an artist and a young man. Now, as a teacher myself, I fully appreciate their incredible talent and minds. I think of them often throughout my days and conversations with my students, and I hope I’ve made them proud. What motivated you to start Richard Tomaino Ceramics in 2019? What specific inspirations or experiences led you to take this entrepreneurial step? I had worked in many creative roles and ultimately wanted to work for myself. I wanted to have the autonomy to direct my efforts and outcomes. So a year
before leaving my last role, I planned my transition into building my own creative studio. I calculated my savings, shopped around for appropriate spaces and committed wholeheartedly. Beginning your own business is a challenge in any year, and 2020 happened to be a very difficult year due to Covid. However, I chose to look at the rigours I would face as a new business that year as a means of future proofing my enterprise. If I could survive and establish myself that year, I could thrive thereafter. Can you describe the creative process behind your ceramic works? How do you come up with new ideas and designs? My creative process largely depends on whether I’m creating work for a client or for myself.