Cassandra Tondro grew up watching her mother paint and sculpt, and longed to be a painter herself. She studied art in college, but the reality of making a living intervened for many years, until she took a leap of faith and decided to pursue her art full time.
She is an artist best known for her use of experimental materials and innovative techniques. She describes herself as a “mad scientist” because of her penchant for exploration.
Her interest in eco-friendly art materials grew out of her involvement in voluntary simplicity, recycling, healthy and organic foods, and a deep concern about the changing environment. Her desire to live in a healthier way encompasses her living environment, decisions about purchases, and lifestyle, as well as her artwork.
She uses repurposed house paint for her paintings — paint that would otherwise go to waste, and potentially end up in a landfill. She acquires the paint from the local Household Hazardous Waste Center and from the mistint reject shelves at home improvement stores, thus reducing the burden of disposal.
Tondro holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Arts Degree from Antioch University in Los Angeles, California. She also trained at University of California, Los Angeles and Otis College of Art and Design.
Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, and is in public, corporate and private collections both nationally and internationally.
She is a founder of ARTconnectsLA, a non-profit corporation that serves the Los Angeles area by placing artwork in social service agencies, community centers and non-profit organizations that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford original art. She is also the founder and former owner of WildFiber, Fiber Arts Studio and Store in Santa Monica, California.
Website
http://www.tondro.com
