MEET THE ARTIST
Born during the Great Depression, Constance was nonetheless fortunate for having multi-ethnic parents from different parts of the world (Italian-American father, German mother), who shared an artistic heritage.
The solitary activities of drawing, painting and playing the piano seemed natural directions for an only child. It was then an easy step to be known as the class artist in school and progress quickly to her first art award in junior high. When it was clear that Constance wanted to pursue the arts as a career, she was encouraged by her art teacher to attend the School of Industrial Arts (now known as the School of Art and Design).
After graduation, her mother took her to Europe not only to meet her artist cousins, but also to broaden her artistic horizons. Upon returning to New York, she attended Parsons' School of Design, where she received a scholarship, and to the Art Students' League of New York.
She embarked on her art career with Norcross Greeting Cards, after which she became Art Director for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. It was then that she met her soon-to-be husband, Serphin, through their mutual friend and future best man, John DeFazio.
Since Serf was home from the Korean conflict, they decided he would go to college while Constance continued her own business-- freelancing in commercial art as "Maltese Design Studio". They married and had two lovely girls, Andrea and Leslie. Andrea has since married Arthur Spanarkel and presented Constance with a beautiful granddaughter, Genevieve. Leslie married James McGill, and has two lovely girls, Sonda and Eva, and "our awaited little boy, James".
While running her own studio in Manhattan, Constance acquired a prestigious client list - Random House, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Regents, Dodd Mead, "My Baby" magazine, Johnson and Johnson, New York Stock Exchange, J. Walter Thompson, Kodak, U.S. Marines, Thomas Electronics, National Society to Prevent Blindness, and New York Diabetes Association.
It was in 1987 that Constance discussed with Dr. Anne Paolucci her desire to change her direction and enter the "fine art" world through portraiture. Dr. Paolucci was the president and founder of "Columbus Countdown: '92", an organization dedicated to the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' landing in America. As these portraits demonstrate, the Discoverers were a four-year investment in time and love.
While running her own studio in Manhattan, Constance acquired a prestigious client list - Random House, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Regents, Dodd Mead, "My Baby" magazine, Johnson and Johnson, New York Stock Exchange, J. Walter Thompson, Kodak, U.S. Marines, Thomas Electronics, National Society to Prevent Blindness, and New York Diabetes Association.
It was in 1987 that Constance discussed with Dr. Anne Paolucci her desire to change her direction and enter the "fine art" world through portraiture. Dr. Paolucci was the president and founder of "Columbus Countdown: '92", an organization dedicated to the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' landing in America. The Discoverers were a four-year investment in time and love.
Currently a member of the prestigious Society of Illustrators Portrait Society of America Inc., and the Art Students League, Constance is a board member of both the Queens Theatre in the Park and the Queens Council on the Arts, where she also served as President.
Among her many awards are:
* International Film Festival Award - Johnson and Johnson
* Arts and Humanities - Columbus Countdown: '92
* Artistic Excellence - Columbia Association
* Woman of the Year - Italian Charities
* Woman of the year - Italian Businessmen's Association
* Arts and Humanities - Sons of Italy Mario Lanza Lodge
* Citation of Honor - Queens Borough President Claire Shulman
* Citation of Honor - LaGuardia Community College
* Flame of History and Culture Award - Central Queens Historical Association
* Lifetime Achievement Award - Italian American Electorate
* Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women - Mayor Giuliani
* Governor's Ward for Excellence - Governor Pataki
Constance's paintings have been shown in museums, galleries, expositions, exhibitions, and Italian-American Heritage presentations at the State Capitol, other states, New York City Hall, Queens Borough Hall, the Queens Museum, Maspeth Town Hall, and featured in a major two-year exhibition at the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum.
Her new book - An Artist's Journal of Discovery, was very well-received at a recent Book Signing (October 30, 2000) at the CNL Anne and Henry Paolucci International Conference Center.
Some of Constance's commissions include Judge Dominick DiCarlo, Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink, Ambassador Charles Gargano, Assemblyman Anthony J. Genovesi, Senator Efraim Gonzalez, Judge Robert Hanophy, Judge Alfred Lerner, Consul General Franco Mistretta, The Honorable Susan Molinari, Mrs. Margaret Pataki, and Senator Mary Lou Rath.
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