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" Life's a Canvas "
A Midwest Dr. by Day Who Has Become
Artist to the Stars

Nicolosi is A True Modern Day Renaissance Man
_____________________

www.PopArtGalleries.com

AP
On the wall of his mother's kitchen in his boyhood home, there hung a sign which read,

"Who you are when you are born is God's gift to you. What you do with that gift is your gift to God ."

" Those are the words that set the moral compass for the 5 brothers in our family," Nicolosi said last Tuesday in Los Angeles.

"To this day, I still wake up every morning and start my day with those words in mind."

He always loved going to art class when he was a student at Marsh Elementary School.

Growing up in a place he describes as conservative, it was a class where he felt he could break away from the ordinary and indulge in his own

tastes and preferences. "I've always kind of marched to my own drum my whole life," Nicolosi said.And although he pursued a career in dentistry, he didn't feel he was turning his back on his favorite childhood pastime."The arts and the sciences are so closely related, and one really infuses the other," Nicolosi said.As a dentist in the Chicago area, Nicolosi created artwork by designing porcelain teeth. But overall, he described his job as the art of healing.Though he now occupies most of his days creating Pop Art portraits for Hollywood's elite, his job description really hasn't changed.

"Its all about using you gifts and living each moment to the fullest as a reflection of the Creator. "
As Nicolosi transformed his career from dentistry to pursue art, he could hardly believe his own decision."I thought, 'I know it's totally unreasonable, but I'm going to immerse myself in this,' " he said.His life as an artist started when a photographer asked him to be a model for her publisher's next romance novel. Although he had no plans of

becoming the next Fabio, he agreed to one shoot, and his first cover came out nearly five years ago."It was just so bizarre, but I decided to go into it after seeing how it changed so many women's lives," Nicolosi said.At the same time, Nicolosi started creating and selling oil illustrations of the novels, which evolved into mixed media acrylic on canvas. When

nobody would show his mixed media work in Chicago, he brought it to Miami, Fla., where the bright colors were a hit. One week later,

"Golden Girl" Rue McClanahan called him requesting a piece of his work, becoming the first of numerous celebrity clients.Nicolosi created a piece of art for client Patricia Neal, who starred in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and it was submitted to the Hollywood Museum,

attracting producers at "Entertainment Tonight."Nearly two years ago, producers at "ET" charged Nicolosi with the task of producing artwork for their set. Although they loved his work, they

loved his life story more, Nicolosi said. Nicolosi couldn't have been happier about his big break."It took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that I was contacted by 'Entertainment Tonight,' " he said.While employed with "ET" for the first year, Nicolosi created some 60 portraits for celebrities including Meryl Streep, George Clooney,

Eddie Murphey and Ashton Kutcher. Although Nicolosi has loved meeting Hollywood celebrities in the past few years, he enjoys creating art for different reasons. "My mission is creating artwork that touches, moves and inspires people," he said. " With success comes responsibility and a debt to payback

to humanity."
Having grown up in the heart of the Midwest, Nicolosi never would have dreamed of becoming a successful artist in Los Angeles."Look deep inside your heart, see what your gift is and cultivate that because it will bring you to your wildest dreams," Nicolosi said. "

And just remember, it doesn't have to be glamorous to be grand."

"Because, in the end, Love is all that matters. "

www.PopArtGalleries.com