Cover Vol50 Iss6 (Click to view... 126KB)

Freelance artist is masterful carver

For 45 years, Renzo Barto of River Edge, N.J., devoted his working days to putting a smile on somebody’s face. The freelance artist gets tickled reflecting on the good fortune his life has been. Whether creating a pop-up greeting card or cartoon caricatures’ humorous antics, he could be sure somebody, somewhere, would pick up his artistry and laugh.

From their home studio, Renzo and his wife, Bobbi, spent half of their careers drawing storybook characters for Disney, Golden Books, Random House, and others.

In 1960, he took up woodcarving as a hobby. His tremendous sense of humor led him to carve Santa taking flight on a goose.

He made his first carving of the “12 Days of Christmas” about 15 years ago. He liked it but it always seemed to be a little bigger than what he would have wanted it to be, so last year he decided to carve a smaller one; at 22" tall, it graces the front cover of this issue. He used acrylics in painting it and then spray coated with a satin finish varnish. He installed a musical movement in the base.


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Last Update: Friday, 28-Mar-2008 13:26:50 EDT