Richard Pietruska: Form Follows Fantasy

Interview by Wallace Wyss

RICHARD PIETRUSKA is a professor and an artist living in Venice, CA who has the distinction of having escaped the clutches of the auto industry to become an Internationally known sculptor. Contributor Wallace Wyss saw him at the FCA convention and asked for an update.

WYSS: I notice the patina on that one sculpture. Is that fiberglass, or have you gone to metal?

PIETRUSKA: That’s metal, bronze. The finish is a very unique silver nitrate patina that lends itself to that particular sculpture of the Ferrari 250/599 GTO.

WYSS: Is bronze casting a lot more expensive than the resins and fiberglass that you did before?

PIETRUSKA: It is more expensive but it also has a more classical feeling and presence than the other mediums.

WYSS: Are you doing the casting in the U.S.?

PIETRUSKA: Oh for sure. I’ve found a number of foundries locally that I have used over the years and I can watch the progress as well.

WYSS Are you going to now experiment with many finishes on bronze?

PIETRUSKA: I’m always looking for ways to improve or create some new finishes for the sculptures, but painting the surfaces always seem to be the best way to say that this is truly “automotive art.” Besides, a lot of the bronze sculptors don’t seem concerned with these highly reflective surfaces and forms.

WYSS: Why do you do Ferraris as often as you do? Is it your favorite car?

PIETRUSKA: Ferraris are not necessarily my favorite cars but I do enjoy the variety and styles of many of the older and some of the newer ones.

WYSS: I see you continued your car-in-motion theme. What made you select that route? Is it because there are slow motion pictures of fast cars where the car leaves an impression on the film?

PIETRUSKA: My main concept is to show form and movement and speed in a static medium, and I use whatever means I have to when portraying that idea.

WYSS: Would you say that it’s good for an artist to have his own thing? His own trademarks as it were?

PIETRUSKA: I think it’s more of my own style, but the results depend on the particular theme of each sculpture. My main theme or concept has pretty much always been “form follows fantasy.” I like to think of automotive design, not as a trade-but as a lifestyle that enriches the designer’s view of the world, where this product has so many ramifications on all aspects of society.

WYSS: I have seen you at Pebble Beach in the AFAS tent. Is that your main show of the year? Where else can we hope to see you?

PIETRUSKA: Pebble Beach is the main exhibit of the AFAS or Automotive Fine Arts Society. The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is another, plus a few local shows like the Dana Point Concours.

WYSS: What was your involvement with GM?

PIETRUSKA: I won the Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild competition when I was much younger. I never worked for any car company, and after graduating from Art Center College of Design, I decided I didn’t want to work in Detroit and stayed in Southern California.

WYSS: Why don’t you use Pontiac GTOs or other cars of that era for your work?

PIETRUSKA: Although these are great cars and I love that era of Pontiac, my focus is more on the exotic cars of the world.

WYSS: What year did you move to Venice CA and, since Venice has a reputation as an artistic
community, can you say that it has been beneficial as far as making contact with other artists?

PIETRUSKA: I’ve been in Venice for over 20 years, mainly because I enjoy being closer to the beach.

WYSS: Do you feel you are part of the Venice artistic community?

PIETRUSKA: Not really, I’m too introverted to be part of any community. My life revolves around Art Center and my sculpture work.

WYSS: Where can our readers find your website to see what’s new?

PIETRUSKA: www.RPMART.com

THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is a fine artist, specializing in postwar sports cars.