Art student learns from a master

Some art students might find it hard to come up with an inspiration. But not Amanda Dalla Villa – she found hers in a Richmond art legend.

Dalla Villa, 21, a senior sculpture major, works alongside well-known Richmond sculptor Paul DiPasquale.

DiPasquale is known for creating large-scale sculptures, such as the Indian at the Richmond Braves stadium, the Arthur Ashe statue on Monument Avenue and the Neptune at Virginia Beach. He happens to be a VCU sculpture graduate, as well.

Dalla Villa began working with DiPasquale in July, and she said her experience has taught her techniques that far exceed those taught in the classroom.

“He’s shown me more about the realm of public art,” Dalla Villa said. “I get to see how an artist can just have a career as an artist and still be successful.”

A friend of Dalla Villa who was taking a rowing class with the sculptor and knew about her plans in her major first introduced Dalla Villa to DiPasquale.

This is not an internship for Dalla Villa; she describes her experience with DiPasquale as more of an artist assistantship. She has been able to work with fiberglass, cast molds, sand and grind, and she said she could do just about anything involving plaster.

Dalla Villa said the most rewarding part of working with DiPasquale is just talking to him.

“I enjoy being able to pick his brain and tap into his knowledge, concerns and interests,” Dalla Villa said. “Paul is very personable and is really excited to share the skills he’s acquired over the years.”

Through her assistantship, Dalla Villa has learned new techniques, shared the problems of her own artwork
and gained advice about materials and skills.

As a student, Dalla Villa is restricted by a lack of monetary resources for projects, and said she wonders how she can find outside funding to make her own art.

“Paul’s work has interested me on a scale size,” Dalla Villa said. “He’s able to work large and still find a budget, commissioner or audience that is willing to make the piece a reality.”

Dalla Villa plans to continue to work for DiPasquale until she graduates in December. DiPasquale has encouraged her to work for a foundry, a factory that produces metal castings, in Florence, Italy, and has even been in contact with the foundry to see if this is possible.

“In regards to my future, Paul has taught me how to have an employee-employer relationship in the art field.” Dalla Villa said. “Further, under Paul’s direction, I feel as though I have mastered another skill (plaster), which I can use in the future.”