I met Carla during
one of my photo shoots. She is Italian-American. I speak a bit of
Italian and love making Italians suffer through my poor Italian. I
call it my “Italian practice” but it should be painful for my
interlocutors. Carla had enough Italian joy
de vivre to enjoy speaking with me, and
enough tact and American tolerance to listen to my
“Lasciate mi
cantare”
stammer. After that I found out that
she is interested in art, has background in art education. Being in
Silicon Valley you start to miss it: people speaking about art, not
discussing new technologies.
Then I decided to launch
my new series of portraits “Fashion and Backgrounds” and invited
Carla to my “studio” to take her portrait, the first one in the
series. Carla agreed to meet me and to speak about herself and her
projects.
Tell me a few words
about yourself
I am Italian-American,
raised in San Jose, in a very traditional family as to culture and
values. I went to art school. I am visually creative person, light
and dark oriented. Now I am doing professional makeup (
Carla Tersini Makeup). I am building
my portfolio here in the Bay Area and in Italy. Eventually I am going
to move to New York for my makeup career. Here
(in the Bay Area)
there is no fashion. It is all computer and high-tech related.
You are Italian. Do you
think that Italian women are different from Americans or any others
in terms of style and fashion ?
Yes, Italians are very
different from Americans. However, recently when I was going back I
noticed that they are getting a little more casual. I will speak
about Rome now as my family is from Rome. Italians do not wear make
up and it is similar to San Jose people here. But you will see a cute
little belt on a pair of jeans, earrings, watches, bracelets.
Italians wear jewelry, a lot of accessories. When they are in their
twenties and thirties even if they are in sneakers, a nice T-shirt
will be tucked in with a little belt. They are really in this visual
esthetic. You do not see a lot of obese people in Italia. But
teenagers are like here, the same sloppy teenagers.
What items are
must-haves in your closet?
When I am going on some
errands, going to the post-office etc. I just wear a pair of shorts
and a T-shirt. When I work, I dress up. I put on some nice earrings,
necklace, watch, ring. I always have perfume. My hair and my make-up
are done. I know how to put myself together really well.
Do you have a charm
accessory, something that brings you luck?
In Italy a ladybug brings
good luck. My cousin has a little ladybug necklace. And when I see a
ladybug I immediately think of him.
What would you never
wear?
Personally, I do not like
too much jewelry. I like minimum, sleek. I like when it is tasteful
but it is not screaming out for attention. I do not like to overdo.
I will never wear a
handbag with a lot of sparkles. Also I tend to dress nicer in Italy.
It is very American to wear a T-shirt and a shirt like I do now. It
is cultural.
What are your favorite
accessories ?
Hermes Watch – is my
dream watch.
Bottega Veneta handbags.
Hermes watch
Bottega Veneta handbag
What
inspires you?
When I have a project with
a photographer on a certain theme, I do my research for the makeup.
Makeup for me is a craft,
skill, job and I learn. I get inspired while going across
photographers' web sites, old magazines, great makeup artists' work.
When I see a great makeup artist, I see how clean, original their
work is, how they bring out the features of the model in a very
tasteful way without drawing attention to the makeup. They approach
the face the way may be I would never approach it.
I love Serge Lutens who
did more theatrical work and was a creative director for Shiseido in
the 80s. Now he is a perfumer and has his own line. Today's makeup
artists like Francois Nars or Bobbi Brown are not inspirational for
me.
By Serge Lutens
What projects are you
working on now?
I am searching for fine
art paintings, old posters, not necessarily classics. It may be an
unknown artist, but to me, interesting visually. Then I am casting a
model who fits the features. I bring all the clothes, prepare the
style. Then I will compile these paintings and photographs into an
art book. On one side there will be an original painting and on the
other side there will be my version. I've done 3 so far, have 4 more
scheduled for August and have many more to do. I am trying to pay
homage to great painters and beautiful paintings that we do not see
anymore, not showing my crazy artist's skills.
Inspired by Caravaggio (from Carla Tersini's painting series)
Michelangelo Caravaggio. Boy with a Basket of Fruit (original painting)
