Playing off truth
Artist profile: David Salustri
By Rebecca Knowe

Artist's Full Name: David Jonathan Salustri
Hometown: Broken Arrow, OK
Classification: Freshman
Age: 19
Major: Graphic Design Video
Type of Art: Visual art (comic strips, window painting, graphic design) and music

How long have you been creating art?
I made my first drawing when I was three. My mom saved it for me. It was of a Mighty Mouse-looking thing. In first grade, my teacher had me go up and draw a dinosaur for [the class]. [I] could have started before then; [I] probably did. First grade is the first concrete date I have.

What is your favorite medium?
I like doing colored pencil and oil pastel. Actually, I like doing graphic design so much - with the computer - not just fine art. I'm also into music. I love music, writing it and stuff. I enjoy singing and piano. That's my big hobby, and graphic design is too.

What instrument do you play?
Piano. With piano, I haven't shown anyone [what I can do] - only a couple people. Art, everyone sees that. But music, I brought in a tape to work; my boss actually liked it. He was like, "Hey, I like that better than your drawing."

What is your speciality?
I do window paintings. Once you get used to it, it's all the same. All this stuff is the same, really. Art, comics, music, window painting. It's all the same category. I think comedy is the same. Comedy, art, music, even literature. HumorÑyou know, comic strips combine both. John Lennon could draw. You know everyone for just one thing, but if you're good at one thing, it probably reaches into other areas.

Why?
You know what I think it is? It's like a deeper look into what we do and the way we live. When you make fun of something [in comedy], you have to understand it. It's the same way with art: playing off of truth. That goes for comedy and art both. Comedy is based off ideas. Art is based off ideas and the way things look. Music is based off ideas, and emotions, too. It all requires a very good understanding.

Does your music hobby reinforce your creativity in art?
It's a way to take a break from art but still be creative. You love to draw. But like in the Bible, you can have too much manna. Your body can't [handle] the same food too many days in a row.

You love art but you can't have it too many days in a row. I just love to draw. When you're right in the middle of it, it's like, "Yeah, there must be a greater purpose behind this." When you're drawing you can tell there's something more behind it all. There's a greater being. You can just tell. You feel like there's a purpose. That's how I feel when I'm done.

Tell me about your piece "Creation is Life."
It shows that death to self helps you create. It's a typical classroom. Very moody; it's kinda got a dreary effect to it. It's a desk that's illuminated with light, and that's creationÑlike when you draw. The light shows that it's life. The death is the black and it's right behind the chair, which is self. You can barely make out the coffin behind the chair. It means that in order to create life or ideas, you need to put yourself aside.

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