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Whitney Pintello

Artfully yours

Whitney Pintello

Multi Talented , Creative , Fun Loving , Community Minded

Written By Laura Wrede

For many people , windows hold a special significance , either metaphorically , or as an important architectural design element . This was true for Gilroy artist Whitney Pintello who , more than a decade ago , fell in love with the artistic promise windows held while searching for new objects to paint . These unassuming and familiar items — readily found in nearly every modern building — were not always so commonplace historically .

For centuries windows have been used as a decorative element either graced with stained glass or as an architectural prize harkening back to the Renaissance when small hand-blown panes were joined together with lead strips . During the sixteenth century , window glass was considered so precious , a man might will his house to one relative and the glass windows to another . In early America , window glass of any kind was rare . By the late 1800s , Americans were installing glass windows into their homes often to showcase their affluence . It ’ s these century-plus old windows that are today ’ s canvasses for Whitney ’ s art .
Old sash style windows with peeling paint and time-worn wood are the prize . While some see trash , Whitney sees an opportunity for artistic repurposing . Sourcing her canvasses over the years has been like a treasure hunt . “ I used to pay retail at antique stores until I found out contractors were paying dump fees to get rid of them . After doing this ten-plus years , I have a steady stream coming from folks who ’ ve taken my card at shows . I buy or barter for them . I also love Urban Ore in Berkeley , the Macy ’ s of salvage yards ,” said Whitney .
Her quest for painting on windows started out very purposefully . “ I sought a window out when I read an article on ways to repurpose windows ,” she said . That one window grew into a decade of artistic creations that her collectors love . “ Patrons like the casual , rustic quality
the paintings have and the ‘ found art ’ reuse of the vintage windows ,” she said . Window painting wasn ’ t her first creative endeavor , however .
As a member of the Pintello family — owners of Gilroy ’ s Pintello Comedy Theater — Whitney spent many years painting stage sets and murals . “ My family ’ s involvement in theater meant we painted all the time ,” she said . “ I was a good mimic , I could paint a brick wall or marble or could reproduce a train if that ’ s what a set called for . Theater folks did faux-finishes before Martha Stewart was ever a household name . So , about the time I decided to take time off with my toddlers , a friend asked if she could pay me to do a mural for her son . Then another friend . During that time I took an interest in repurposed furniture , funky leopard dressers , themed children ’ s sets and the like .”
Whitney ’ s art began to take hold and soon she was selling in public . “ On a whim , I applied for an art festival and spent a weekend garage sale-ing . I spent the next two months painting . It was so fun ! I loved that every ‘ canvas ’ was unique . I sold out every piece at my first festival and was hooked . Local folks who bought pieces asked if I could paint a room to match , commissioned other work . Faux-finishes were just coming into style and I quickly made up business cards . I worked for a friend and a friend of a friend until I got referred to businesses and started to realize I wanted to keep painting , not just let it be a hobby .”
Carrying around all that furniture to shows over the years grew a bit cumbersome , however . That ’ s when Whitney sought out windows ; something she was able to manage on her own without a crew to help her set up at shows . There was a learning curve , however . These new objects were not like painting on furniture or stage sets .
The technique used to paint windows is a backward layering order of the elements . Explaining the process , Whitney said , “… it ’ s painted
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 gmhtoday . com