Tour Dates:
Saturday, June 3, 2023
10:00am - 10:30am
10:30am - 11:00am
11:00am - 11:30am
The lively painted exterior of Johno's ART Studio is a clue of what you'll find as you step inside the colorful work space of Pittsburgh artists, husband and wife, Johno Prascak and Maria DeSimone Prascak. The art studio is filled with their expressive wall art and gift items.
Original Enamel & Sand paintings featuring the Pittsburgh Skyline and various subject matter. Fine art reproductions and note cards. Unique, whimsical, mixed media creations made from repurposed materials. Handmade jewelry in the magic cupboard, a tiny boutique and other fun artsy stuff!
TOUR HOST BIO:
Johno Prascak, a Pittsburgh native, creates each original with his own unconventional mixture of enamels and sand from the Monongahela River. Applying the sand directly on to the canvas with many layers and drips of paint, giving the art unique texture and depth.
He accepts commissioned work, often incorporating sand from a client's own collection, making the artwork special. Beginning at age 13, after suffering for 10 years with ulcerative colitis, he had life saving surgery and now wears a permanent ileostomy. He often recalls seeing his Mom at bedside and the priest administering last rights. The will to survive and desire to do something purposeful with his life motivated me to get well. While recuperating from surgery he studied art, many of the old masters, inspiring him to begin painting as a form of therapy. You may recognize his art on Sarris Candies boxes, featured on NBC's Will & Grace, Pittsburgh Today LIVE, Heinz Field, Carnegie Library of Homestead and the National Aviary. Fan give away art commissioned by: Pittsburgh Penguins puzzle and Pittsburgh Pirates kids poster.
Maria DeSimone Prascak is a self- taught artist best known for her custom murals and fine art in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. The art is often described as enchanting, colorful and imaginative. Maria started her professional art business in 1982 at age 19, with a retail shop, Maria's Ideas perched on the historic South Side Slopes, the same location where her husband sells his artwork along with Maria at Johno's Art Studio. Maria stays busy creating custom, hand painted house and pet portraits, wall art, handmade personalized art and teaching paint classes for the National Aviary, Pittsburgh Penguins and others. She designs and leads community projects and volunteers and teaches art classes at Little Sisters of the Poor. Maria is now co- hosting and co-producing her new cable TV show MARIAS IDEAS Teaches Us To Paint.
TOUR STARTS/ENDS: 1705 Arlington Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Insider Tour