Rock Stars The Art of Roberto Rizzo Italian artist Roberto

By Scott Broecker

The Rolling Stones may be the epitome of rock stars; however, this spotlight is cast on the dogs who are lovingly painted by Italian artist Roberto Rizzo. Roberto paints incredible portraits of dogs, as well as all kinds of other animals, both domestic and wild. His paintings are skillfully rendered on his favorite medium, known in Italian as sassi dipinti or in English, “painted stones.”

Roberto has been fascinated by animals ever since he was a child growing up in Italy, living in a house full of pets that included dogs, cats, birds, fish, and lizards. He continues this childhood passion with undiminished enthusiasm by painting animals every day.

After completing studies at the European Institute of Design in Milan, Roberto worked as an illustrator before dedicating his artistic talents to the art of rock painting in 1996. He now resides and works in Malaga, Spain.

Among the many pet portraits Roberto’s done over the years (including beautiful cats, bunnies, guinea pigs, and parrots) are a large number of commissioned dog portraits. Some are close-up headshots, while others are full body with his subject curled into a relaxed pose, often with their tail tip protruding from under them.

Roberto collaborates with Mother Nature when searching for the perfect rocks for his work. He finds water-sculpted stones along rivers, beaches, and streams during his gathering trips and hikes. Roberto believes that each stone has a type of soul, and it brings him great joy to bring out the innate life within each one.

Using an array of brushes and brush techniques, Roberto turns a cold stone into a warm familiar animal with hyperrealistic details such as fur that actually looks pettable. A dog's fur will flow naturally with almost undetectable brush marks and shading.

Beautiful graduated tones are interlaced with fine detail. From feathers to fur to scales, Roberto's attention to detail is remarkable. Taking advantage

of the unique shapes created by nature, Roberto might choose a particular rock to become an owl in a tree, or an arched dolphin leaping out from the water. His dog portraits are generally painted on stones shaped like large beans, which accommodate them well.

Roberto treats each pet portrait as an individual and strives to capture the subtleties and oneof-a-kind expressions of his pet subjects. His animals always look calm and content, but still alert and alive. He skillfully uses thousands of brushstrokes of various widths to recreate a dog's lustrous coat. Each portrait is soft edged, with a natural sense of depth and a unique perspective.

Working from one or more photos, he paints the portraits on stones that range from four to ten inches in size. Roberto begins by choosing and applying a flat base color before completing an

accurate drawing of his subject. This is a critical step to achieving his desired result. Using a custom mixed palette of acrylic paint, he starts out using mediumsized brushes, slowly going into more and more detail, while staying true to his original sketch. In between coats, he uses transparent shades to obtain the dynamic illusion of volume.

Roberto is very generous with his knowledge and shares many videos and tutorials online. His published book on the subject was very successful in his native Italy.

Roberto’s creative talent is combined with great professionalism, making him a highly respected artist in the contemporary art scene. His paintings are recognized worldwide and are always in high demand. He receives accolades from all over the world and his website has over ten thousand visits each month.

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Roberto believes that each stone has a type of soul, and it brings him great joy to bring out the innate life within each one.

Each of his painted stones is a unique piece of artwork, signed and protected with a finishing varnish on both sides. Roberto guarantees the maximum quality of his handmade artwork with a certificate of authenticity. On request, the pieces can be customized with a date and a dedication. His commissioned portraits are full of life and are much more than just a copy of a photo. They can also be rendered on traditional canvas or in pencil and charcoal on paper. His prices vary depending on size and the number of subjects. You may want to commission your own precious keepsake as a memorial or gift for yourself, friends, or family.

For further information and to see more of Roberto’s work, have a look at these sites:

www.robertorizzoart.net www.facebook.com/robertorizzoart/| www.instagram.com/robertorizzoart/?hl=en